@article{4133c0ec817342829933447c3c45a375,
title = "Great bustards Otis tarda in Morocco: Status in spring 1999 and evidence of a decline in recent decades",
abstract = "A spring (1999) census was conducted of great bustards Otis tarda in north-western Morocco, where a poorly known population of this species occurs. Sixty-four birds were seen in four distinct areas. Adult males were seen displaying at three of these areas, indicating that they are probably traditional lek sites. No adult males were observed in the fourth area and its status as a lek site is uncertain. Two further sites were visited but no birds were seen. Two 1st-year males were seen with their mothers, demonstrating successful breeding in 1998. We argue that the small number of birds, a population sex ratio of 1:3.3 in favour of females, evidence for a range contraction, and probable isolation from other great bustard populations mean that this population is now extremely endangered and will decline to extinction unless conservation measures are implemented immediately.",
keywords = "Conservation, Extinction risk, Great bustard, Morocco, Otis tarda, Population trends, Status",
author = "Alonso, {Juan C.} and Lane, {Simon J.} and Robert Dawson and Youssef Idaghdour",
note = "Funding Information: S.J.L. and J.C.A. conceived the idea of censusing great bustards in Morocco prior to their knowledge of J. Hellmich's work in 1998. By proceeding with a census in 1999, there was then the risk of 'stealing his thunder'; however, in the true spirit of collaboration, J. Hellmich provided us with a draft of his report including information on the locations of all flocks he had recorded. We acknowledge that the success of our census was largely the result of this generosity for which we thank him warmly. The survey was co-financed by the British Ecological Society (SEPG No. 1577 to S.J.L.) and The International Foundation for Conservation and Development of Wildlife (IFCDW), Inezgane, Morocco, who generously provided a car and driver. Particular thanks are given to Dr Sami Jamil Jadallah for his encouragement and support, and to His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, patron and sponsor of IFCDW. S.J.L. was supported by a Marie Curie Research Training Grant awarded under the Training and Mobility of Researchers Programme by the European Commission Directorate General XII.",
year = "2000",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1046/j.1365-3008.2000.00106.x",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "34",
pages = "141--145",
journal = "ORYX",
issn = "0030-6053",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
number = "2",
}