Kunlanan Thongsuk, Wangworn Sankamethawee, Pattraporn Simla, Rongrong Angkaew, Andrew J. Pierce & George A. Gale

Abstract. The population of the yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola (YBB) has declined dramatically during the last two decades. Despite once being one of the most abundant landbirds, little is known about the characteristics of its wintering habitat. We conducted surveys at Kaeng Lawa Wetland in Northeastern Thailand, a site with one of the largest known wintering populations in Southeast Asia. From 64 survey points with five replicate surveys from December 2021 to May 2022 (320 point surveys), YBBs were detected on 53 occasions from 23 points. The maximum count was in February 2022 with at least 2,348 individuals. The majority were found in post-harvested rice fields, followed by dry scrub, and then reedbeds & wet scrub around the wetland. The YBB preferred habitats with abundant fallen rice seeds, scattered vegetation (scrub and trees) for shelter, proximity to water sources, and far from human settlements. Active management of feeding, sheltering, and roosting habitats will be essential for maintaining habitats for this critically endangered species. The implementation of lower-intensity, eco-friendly agricultural practices and proper flood control is needed. However, significant knowledge gaps remain and should be addressed in future studies. These include accurately estimating and monitoring population sizes at communal night roosts, understanding the species’ response to the rice farming cycle and broader land-use changes, assessing human-bird conflict in rice fields and other agricultural landscapes (a major threat at wintering areas), and evaluating the conditions that influence their movements within wintering grounds.

Key words. Emberiza aureola, farmland birds, habitat selection, migratory landbirds, wintering populations

Read article here: RBZ-2025-0039