The Aquatic Warbler

© Antonio Sabater/Enfoque10

The Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is a Globally Threatened bird with a highly restricted distribution. This passerine breeds in extensive reed-swamps, a kind of habitat which has been greatly diminished in Europe. Nowadays, it is confined to Eastern Europe, 90% of its total population being concentrated in Poland, Belarus and Hungary. 

Many aquatic warblers migrate in autumn to Western African countries, supposedly Senegal and Mali. Little is known about both wintering areas and return migration. During autumn passage, they cross most of the European continent, following a route that bring them into north-west Europe before turning south through France and Spain. Its habitat requirements during migration resamble that of the breeding grounds, favouring low stands of sedges and reeds. 

The Laguna de la Nava, in Palencia province (Spain), provides the required habitat features which has converted this small area (307 hectares) into one of the most important regular staging site along the migration route. From 1999 to 2002, the Global Nature Foundation ringed in this lagoon 462 aquatic warblers as part of a monitoring study, a relatively high number compared with the rest of Europe. A Life project has been recently assigned by European Union to the regional Government of Castilla y León to implement habitat conservation in this lagoon, as well as improve the knowledge of the biology of this marshland specialist.

To know more:

Fernando Jubete, Global Nature Foundation, Corro del Postigo 1, 34337 Fuentes de Nava (Palencia, Spain).Tel. 0034 979 84 23 98. e-mail: fjubete@fundacionglobalnature.org