A study conducted in the Camargue reveals that Eurasian spoonbills use both moderately and highly protected wetlands. The complementary nature of land management methods in the Camargue seems to benefit the species, particularly the management of hunting marshes and of nature reserves protected according to the annual cycle.
The fragmentation of landscapes represents a major challenge for the conservation of mobile and specialised species such as waterbirds. For this reason, protected areas play an essential role in the preservation of biodiversity. A recent study conducted in the Camargue on the Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) reveals that this species manages to benefit from current global changes thanks to its ability to exploit suitable habitats, whether they are managed in a more or less interventionist way. The monitoring of 91 spoonbills equipped with GPS beacons between 2016 and 2023 highlights significant differences in the spatial use of the territory according to the age of the individuals, while raising the question of the species’ dependence on heavily human-managed natural areas.
Age-related spatial preferences
Analysis of geolocation data shows that juvenile and immature white spoonbills tend to prefer areas with moderate protection status over highly protected areas, unlike adults, who do not show a marked preference and use both. Young spoonbills also behave more exploratively than adults, using a greater number of different sites throughout the year.
According to Hugo Ferreira, the study’s first author: ‘This different behaviour between juveniles and adults could be explained in several ways, which could potentially be cumulative: as a strategy to avoid competition for food with more experienced adults, as a phase of exploration necessary for the acquisition of knowledge about their environment, or simply as a lack of experience when it comes to identifying the most beneficial areas.’
The functional complementarity of private natural areas and highly protected zones
Among the protected areas favoured by young white spoonbills, and also regularly frequented by adults, are numerous wetlands managed by the private sector, particularly for hunting. Through practices such as flooding in summer and maintaining water levels, their management aims to increase the attractiveness of these wetlands for waterfowl, which indirectly favours the presence of abundant food for spoonbills.
In a context where landscapes are becoming increasingly fragmented and wetlands are generally deteriorating, these natural areas, although less protected, play an important role for populations of non-hunted species such as the Eurasian spoonbill, but also potentially for glossy ibises, black-tailed godwits and other waders. Indeed, while highly protected areas ensure a low level of disturbance for Eurasian spoonbills, their management often aims to allow the ecosystem to persist in its natural Mediterranean rhythm with prolonged droughts at the end of summer, potentially reducing the abundance of food available to waterbirds at certain times of the year.
Conclusion
This study illustrates how the Spoonbill, a moderately specialised species, manages to benefit from current global changes thanks to its ability to exploit suitable habitats within fragmented landscapes.
However, Jocelyn Champagnon, Director of Research at Tour du Valat and co-author of the study, points out that ‘the role of protected areas prioritising biodiversity issues and aiming to conserve priority species that are often more specialised in the Mediterranean climate plays an irreplaceable role, not only for these species, but also for less specialised species such as spoonbills. Indeed, their protected status and the implementation of dedicated 5- to 10-year management plans guarantee all protected species access to stable areas within fragmented landscapes that are subject to rapid changes.’
Ferreira, H.R.S., Alves, J.A., Jiguet, F. et al. Role of protected areas for a colonial-breeding waterbird in a fragmented landscape throughout its annual cycle. Landsc Ecol 40, 6 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-02017-5
