Roost location and landscape attributes influencing habitat selection of migratory waterbirds in rice fields

An analysis of habitat selection and use patterns by the near-threatened black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), a long-distance migratory waterbird, was conducted in rice fields of southern Europe during their northwards migration. A complete set of factors was assessed, including food availability, crop management, predation risk, human disturbance, habitat structure, and the presence of roosting areas. Additionally, by tracking radio-tagged godwits, the home range of this waterbird species was established while staging in the rice fields. Godwits selected as foraging grounds flooded, rolled pans that minimised their movements (average home range: 4919 ± 2226 ha) between the roosting and foraging grounds. The presence of power lines in the rice fields was the most important landscape factor affecting the location of the godwits’ roosts, which were also flooded, rolled pans. The quality of rice fields as a key staging area for godwits lay in the presence not only of suitable foraging areas, but also of roosting sites. This study highlights for first time the key role of some facilities and the availability of roosting sites in determining the use of rice fields by migratory waterbirds such as godwits.