Vanellus gregarius -- (Pallas, 1771)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- CHARADRIIFORMES -- CHARADRIIDAECommon names: Sociable Lapwing; Sociable Plover; Vanneau sociable

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

CR -- Critically Endangered, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Critically Endangered (CR)EU27 regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA)

This species has undergone an extremely rapid population decline in Europe and the remaining population is extremely small. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered (A2abcd+3bcd+4abcd; C1+2a(i,ii); D). It does not breed in the EU27.

The bird is considered vagrant in the EU27 and is assessed as Not Applicable (NA) for this region.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia; Russian Federation; TurkeyVagrant:Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukraine; United Kingdom

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 0-10 pairs, which equates to 0-20 mature individuals. The species does not occur in the EU27. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing by 80% or more in 27 years (three generations) and by 25% or more in 9 years (one generation). For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThis species breeds mainly in the transition zones of Stipa and Artemisia grassland steppes and on dry wasteland, cultivated, ploughed and stubble fields. During migration, it is found mainly on sandy plains with short grass, dry meadows, fallow land and cultivated fields. Breeding begins from mid-April until July in semi-colonial groups of 3–20 pairs. The nest consists of a scrape that can be unlined or lined with plant material, pebbles and debris in which a clutch of two to five eggs are laid (Wiersma et al. 2015). It feeds mainly on insects and moth larvae as well as arachnids and frequently small amounts of plant matter including grains, leaves and flowers (Wiersma et al. 2015). Migration begins August to September usually in small flocks of 15–20 birds. It disperses south through Asia and Africa with a small number wintering in south-west Iberia (Wiersma et al. 2015).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding

Habitats & AltitudeHabitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence

Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry major non-breedingGrassland - Temperate major breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable breedingAltitude 0-300 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsKey factors explaining the magnitude of declines remain poorly understood, despite much recent research. On the breeding grounds it was probably formerly threatened by the conversion of steppe to arable cultivation, plus, perhaps less likely, the reduction in grazing by large herds of native ungulates and latterly by the loss of the enormous herds of domestic grazing animals from state-sponsored collective farms (Eichhorn and Khrokov 2002, Watson et al. 2006). However, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, large areas of arable cultivation have been abandoned and are reverting to natural steppe habitat, herds of domestic livestock have become concentrated around villages (where their permanent presence leads to shorter swards than were created by the vast herds that grazed semi-nomadically under the Soviet system), while an increase in fires (owing to reduced control of fires) may also have contributed to an increase in suitable habitat. In parts of Kazakhstan, these factors are thought to be behind the possible increase in numbers in recent years and this may be the case elsewhere too (Watson et al. 2006, M. A. Koshkin, J. Kamp and R. D. Sheldon in litt. 2007). Concentration of nests in heavily grazed areas in the vicinity of villages may have increased threats from human disturbance and trampling by sheep, goats and possibly other livestock (Watson et al. 2006, M. A. Koshkin, J. Kamp and R. D. Sheldon in litt. 2007). Low egg survival due to nesting in areas of high grazer density has been suggested as one of the causes for the species's decline (Watson et al. 2006). The species may be affected by the increasingly dry climate in its breeding and wintering range, but it is not clear if this benefits or threatens this semi-desert species (Watson et al. 2006). Illegal hunting during migration and on the wintering grounds may now be the primary threat (M. A. Koshkin, J. Kamp and R. D. Sheldon in litt. 2007, Biricik et al. 2008). Data from 2005–2012 suggest that low adult survival, perhaps resulting from known hunting pressure along the migration routes, appears to be the most critical demographic rate (Sheldon et al. 2013).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Unlikely to Return

Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Past Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Agriculture & aquaculture

Nomadic grazing Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

Agriculture & aquaculture

Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesReduced reproductive success

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (intentional use - species is the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines High Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (unintentional effects - species is not the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Climate change & severe weather

Droughts Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown

StressesEcosystem degradation

Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents (type unknown/unrecorded)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayCMS Appendix I and II. An International Species Action Plan was published in 2004. It is legally protected in Armenia, Russia and Ukraine, but this is generally not enforced (Belik 2005). In Turkey the species is protected from hunting through national legislation by the Central Hunting Committee (MAK) who have put the species on the protected list (Sheldon et al. 2012). A survey of historical breeding sites in the South Urals was conducted in 2005 (Morozov and Kornev 2005) and another at passage sites in south-west Russia was carried out in 2006 (Field et al. 2006). Coordinated counts were undertaken at key passage/wintering sites in Syria and Turkey in March 2007 (Anon. 2007). A project was initiated in Turkey in 2008 to gain a better understanding of stopover sites used by the species in Turkey during migration (Biricik et al. 2008). The inaugural meeting of the International Sociable Lapwing Working Group was held in Palmyra, Syria in March 2011. The group agreed on conservation measures required by each country, and planned cross-border actions to protect the species across its extensive range.

Conservation Actions ProposedContinue research in Kazakhstan (and initiate in Russia) on breeding biology, habitat requirements and migration, including colour-ringing and satellite tracking to determine movements. Continue to monitor trends on breeding grounds and at key passage/winter sites. Identify and evaluate key threats on breeding, passage and wintering grounds. Investigate the importance of hunting on passage/wintering grounds. Review International Species Action Plan in the light of recent research on the breeding grounds and identification of key passage/wintering sites. Develop national species action plans, at least for Kazakhstan and key passage/wintering countries. At breeding colonies sensitive to trampling by sheep during nesting period, work with local shepherds to minimise disturbance. Control hunting on wintering/passage sites.

BibliographyAnon. 2007. Sociable Lapwing "jackpot". World Birdwatch 29(2): 4Belik, V.P. 2005. The Sociable Lapwing in Eurasia: what does the future hold? British Birds 98: 476-485.Biricik, M., Deniz, H., Mungan, R., Akarsu, F., Ataol, M. and Balkiz, O. 2008. Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) 2008 field report.Eichhorn, G. and Khrokov, V.V. 2002. Decline in breeding Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria in the steppes of Naurzum and Korgalzhyn, Kazakhstan. Sandgrouse 24: 22-27.Field, R., Gordon, J., Koshkin, M., Field, K., Gordon, O., Kucheryavaya, N., Fedosov, V. and Malovichko, L. 2006. Preliminary surveys of Chagraiskoje reservoir, south-west Russian Federation, for Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius.Morozov, V.V. and Kornev, S.V. 2005. Survey of the Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius in the South Urals, May 2005. Wader Study Group Bulletin 108: 27.Sheldon, R.D., Kamp, J., Koshkin, M.A., Urazaliev, R.S., Iskakov, T.K., Field, R.H., Salemgareev, A.R., Khrokov, V.V., Zhuly, V.A., Sklyarenko, S.L. and Donald, P.F. 2013. Breeding ecology of the globally threatened Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius and the demographic drivers of recent declines. Journal of Ornithology 154(2): 501-516.Sheldon, R.D., Koshkin, M.A., Kamp, J., Dereliev, S., Donald, P.F., and Jbour, S. (Compilers). 2012. International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius. CMS Technical Series No. XX, AEWA Technical Series No. XX. Bonn, Germany.

BibliographyWatson, M., Wilson, J.M., Koshkin, M., Sherbakov, B., Karpov, F., Gavrilov, A., Schielzeth, H., Brombacher, M., Collar, N.J. and Cresswell, W. 2006. Nest survival and productivity of the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius. Ibis 148: 489-502.Wiersma, P., Bonan, A. and Sharpe, C.J. 2015. Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) 2015. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53811 on 28 April 2015).

Map (see overleaf)