Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1983, Page 78

THE AUTUMN MIGRATION AT AKRABERG,...
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routes were placed in a way that made it
possible to study more closely stone fences,
sheds, small wet areas in the fields, coastlines
rich in nutritious matter, and certain gardens.
Besides, the outlying fields north of Akraberg
were searched by telescope for larger birds,
especially geese. High winds made the re-
cording of passerines problematic, and in case
of wind forces of more than 25 to 30 knots
census was given up.
With a view to future ringing, the importan-
ce of the few possibilities of finding shelter in
these extremely wind-swept areas without
higher growth cannot be emphasized too
often. In this connection it is characteristic
that some of the small birds could be caught
by hand, because they sought shelter in the
houses.
The grass field round Akraberg held several
species, which, normally, »ought« not to
occur in this habitat. Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus and Sanderling Ca-
lidris alba, for instance, were registered here
within the same few square metres!
Consequently, and surprisingly, as many as
58 species were recorded round Akraberg's
unvaried habitat without plantation for shel-
ter and with no real water holes. (Fig. 3, A-C).
In appendix 1 you will find a systematical
survey of all the 101 species which were re-
corded within the total area of observation
during the given periođ. (Fig. 3, A-F). It
deserves notice that they have all been in-
cluded in the latest check-list (Bloch & Søren-
sen 1984). In comparison with the previous
checklist (Williamson 1970) there are 2 first
records (Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
and Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla), and
another 15 species which had been recorded
5 times or less till 1970. No less than 29 of
the recorded species were considered to be
rare in 1970, i.e. of no annual occurence. But
in comparison with the observations from
the Fair Isle Observatory on the Shetland
Isles, for instance, the list cannot be said to
show any big surprises.
Results.
Grossly, two components can be found in bird
migration on the Faroes: 1) normal migration
and 2) other kinds of migration (Salomonsen
1935, Williamson 1953).
Normal migration is performed besides the
sea birds by the birds passing the Faroes on
their way to and from the breeding grounds
in Iceland and Greenland. This applies to
Anseriformes, waders, and certain birds of
prey and small birds.
Other kinds of migration mainly include
wind-assisted migration performed by Scan-
dinavian birds, but also migrants of a far
more distant origin occur regularly. William-
son, for instance, called attention to several
species, the occurrence of which is to be
explained as reverse migration today (Rabøl
1969, 1976, Sharrock 1974).
Both types of migration occurred at Akra-
berg, and they will be treated separately.
Normal migrants.
Sea birds. The most numerous sea birds were
Fulmar, Kittiwake, and Gannet Sula bassana.
The Fulmar occurred to the number of
maximum 18.000 per hour. 90% of the birds
were following the coast round Akraberg
from the north and the east to the west and
the northwest.
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