Habitat selection, ranging behaviour and diet of the stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) in southern England

Distribution, habitat use and selection, ranging behaviour, diet and food s upply of the stone curlew Burhinus oedicnemus were studied in a small, frag mented population at the north-western edge of its world range. Stone curle ws bred on short semi-natural grassland and spring-sown arable farmland in areas with sandy soils with stones or rubble. They were most active at nigh t and travelled up to about 3 km from the nest to forage. Individuals used a fragmented home range comprising an average of 30 ha of short seminatural grassland, short improved pasture and spring-sown crops for foraging. Eart hworms, soil-surface arthropods and molluscs were the main prey; the propor tion of earthworms being lowest when the soil was dry. Breeding densities w ere highest on short semi-natural grassland. Stone curlews were most likely to breed on a spring-sown arable field if the crop was of a type that beca me tall and dense relatively late in the summer and if the field was close to short semi-natural grassland or sheep pasture and distant (> 3 km) from the nearest major road. Sparse vegetation and bare ground were the most obv ious characteristics of habitats preferred for nesting and foraging.