Rainer Raab

• Mag. Dr.
• Head of Department at Technisches Büro für Biologie - Technical office for biology, Deutsch-Wagram, Austria

Flight directions of Great Bustards Otis tarda after take-off were used to analyse effects of power lines on spatial movements of this highly endangered bird species. Data on flight directions came from Great Bustard observations conducted in eastern Austria (northern and eastern parts of Lower Austria, northern part of Burgenland), western Slovaki...

Collisions with power lines represent an important mortality factor for Great Bustards Otis tarda throughout the distribution range of the species. This study evaluates the success of two conservation measures implemented in the West-Pannonian distribution range to reduce the number of power line collision casualties: (1) extensive underground cabl...

Calls for urgent action to conserve biodiversity under global change are increasing, and conservation of migratory species in this context poses special challenges. In the last two decades the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has provided a framework for several subsidiary instruments including action plans...

In a study of the extent and timing of Red Kite Milvus milvus dispersal movements from Central Europe (Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) using GPS telemetry, we found support for the hypothesis that Red Kite dispersal, including migration behaviour, is dependent on both age and sex. Examination of the tendency to stay in, or return to, a pa...

Red Kite shows a great variability in its migration strategies: most individuals in northeastern Europe are migrants, but there is also a growing number of sedentary individuals. Here, we tagged 49 Red Kites wintering in Spain with GPS/satellite transmitters between 2013 and 2020 to study the autumn and spring migration between the breeding or summ...

Austria and Hungary have been very active in Great Bustard conservation for more than 20 years. Based on the positive effects of the measures taken within the former LIFE projects, one of the objectives of LIFE Great Bustard is to reduce the threat of collision with power lines – for many years the number one mortality factor for immature and adult...

Most species of migrating birds use a combination of innate vector-based orientation programs and social information to facilitate accurate navigation during their life. A number of various interspecies hybridisations have been reported in birds. The traits of parents are expressed in hybrids in typical ways which are either intermediate, combined...

There are many raptor rehabilitation centers around the world that receive and care for wild raptors. Wildlife rehabilitation is a labor- and cost-intensive part of addressing animal welfare. Apart from the compassionate aspect of taking responsibility for an injured animal, there remains an open question as to whether doing so contributes to anima...

The breeding behaviour of raptors is determined by many characteristics, such as courtship and mating patterns, nest building, foraging, territorial defence activities, clutch incubation, and caring for the young. Here, we study the breeding behaviour of the Red Kite (Milvus milvus), a European native bird of prey. From a period between 2018 and 20...

Informed selection of wind turbine dimensions could mitigate the collision risk of birds. Using a simulation approach based on flight height distributions and a collision risk model, we showed that turbine dimensions indeed had substantial effects on collision risk in six European raptor species. With increasing ground clearance of wind turbines, c...

Human-induced direct mortality affects huge numbers of birds each year, threatening hundreds of species worldwide. Tracking technologies can be an important tool to investigate temporal and spatial patterns of bird mortality as well as their drivers. We compiled 1704 mortality records from tracking studies across the African-Eurasian flyway for 45...

Background For soaring birds, the ability to benefit from variable airflow dynamics is crucial, especially while crossing natural barriers such as vast water bodies during migration. Soaring birds also take advantage of warm rising air, so-called thermals, that allow birds to ascend passively to higher altitudes with reduced energy costs. Although...

The Central European Population of the Eastern Imperial Eagle ( Aquila heliaca ) is located on its most western global distribution edge. After a strong decline in the last two centuries the population recovered in the past decades not least due to extensive protection measurements. Conservation and scientific programs on international and national...

The main goal of the LIFE EUROKITE project is to reduce anthropogenic causes of mortality of the red kite in Europe. The efficient protection of the red kite requires the detailed understanding of overall mortality reasons, especially focusing on those caused by legal and illegal human activities. The LIFE EUROKITE project focuses on a Europe-wide...

Breeding behaviour of raptors is determined by many characteristics such as courtship and mating patterns, nest building, foraging, territory defensive activities, clutch incubation and caring for young. Here, we used European native avian generalist predator, the Red Kite (Milvus milvus), for a study of its breeding behaviour due to the selected b...

The black kite (Milvus migrans) and the red kite (Milvus milvus) are sympatric European raptors, and their interspecific hybrids can be found in this area. The genetic structure of kite populations in Europe and the world has been studied only to a limited extent. Microsatellite markers are often used in population structure studies because of thei...

The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is a common raptor in suitable areas of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia during the nonbreeding season. However, the exact number of birds wintering in these countries remains unknown. Through an integrated approach using satellite telemetry, direct field surveys at nocturnal roosts, and citizen science databas...

Migration and over-wintering strategy of raptors can be influenced by many factors such as sex, age and experience of birds, habitat variability and food availability. Based on the telemetry data of nine Red Kites (Milvus milvus), we observed in situ their wintering grounds in southern Italy during winter 2019/2020. Red Kites originated from Austri...

A mature Great Bustard (Otis tarda) female tagged with a satellite transmitter in Dévaványa made four breeding attempts in 2019. A total of seven eggs were laid on the four occasions. None of the breeding attempts were successful, and the bird was killed by a predator, presumably a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) , during the fourth breeding attempt. The f...

The first successful breeding of eastern imperial eagles (Aquila heliaca) in the Czech Republic, which lies at the north-western edge of its world breeding range, was confirmed in 1998. Here we summarise the dispersal, overwintering and expansion of the Czech population based on observational, ringing and telemetry data. The Czech breeding populati...

To effectively protect European species such as the Red Kite, a detailed understanding of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic influences, especially the causes of mortality and spatial context, is required. Modern telemetry techniques are increasingly used to obtain high-resolution information on spatial use. However, collecting such data can be di...

Capsule Some birds of the central European population of Red Kite Milvus milvus are non-migratory and winter within their natal area, whereas others migrate to southern Europe or even to northern Africa. Aims To determine what factors affect the area use and communal roost use by Red Kites wintering in their natal area. Methods We studied spatiot...

Migration and over-wintering strategy of raptors can be influenced by many factors such as sex, age and experience of birds, habitat variability and food availability. Based on the telemetry data of nine Red Kites (Milvus milvus), we observed in situ their wintering grounds in southern Italy during winter 2019/2020. Red Kites originated from Austri...

A book with a lot of pictures and informations about the success of Red Kite Conservation in Europe.

La migración es un movimiento latitudinal periódico que tiene lugar en gran cantidad de aves, que se desplazan cientos o miles de kilómetros entre dos regiones bien diferenciadas. Existen dos periodos migratorios cada año. Uno es la migración de primavera, o migración prenupcial. Como su nombre indica, es aquélla en la que las aves viajan desde sus...

La invernada en las aves rapaces es un periodo fundamental para su desarrollo y supervivencia. Las condiciones invernales son más exigentes para los organismos, tanto en términos climáticos como por la escasa disponibilidad de alimento. Por este motivo, gran cantidad de especies adoptan la migración como estrategia para sortear las dificultades, co...

Understanding the year-round movement behaviour is fundamental for the effective conservation management of an ecologically important species. In the heavily human-modified landscape of Central Europe, Saker Falcons Falco cherrug have adapted to intensively managed agricultural habitats, often nesting and roosting on electrical pylons. We studied t...

To develop effective conservation strategies for migratory birds, it is essential to understand the ecology of a species at each biological phase, including its wintering (or non-breeding) season. For the red kite (Milvus milvus), an endangered raptor from the Western Palearctic, its wintering ecology is little known. We tagged 44 red kites using G...

Understanding intrinsic and extrinsic influences of movement behavior in migratory species, with the potential to recommend management actions for species of conservation concern, requires data from across the species' range. For some raptor species, such as the red kite (Milvus milvus; kite), existing data focus on breeding populations or movement...

Predator behaviour and population numbers can be determined by many factors such as prey availability, individual and habitat characteristics, and intraspecific or interspecific factors. Using satellite telemetry, we measured home range size in 3 individuals of Red Kites (Milvus milvus) in three consecutive winters to document the pattern of spatia...

Red Kite shows a great variability in its migration strategies: most individuals in north-eastern Europe are migrants, but there is also a growing number of sedentary individuals. Here, we tagged 49 Red Kites wintering in Spain with GPS/satellite transmitters between 2013 and 2020 to study the autumn and spring migration between the breeding or sum...

The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is a common raptor in the tripoint border area of Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia during the non-breeding season; however, the exact number of birds wintering in this area remains unknown. Using satellite telemetry, direct field censuses at nocturnal roosts and online avian platforms, we estimated the wintering...

Dispersal is a key process affecting the dynamic and genetic structure of populations. To increase our knowledge on first-year dispersal in the white-tailed eagle (WTE), 35 nestlings in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria were equipped with GPS/GSM loggers while on the nest between 2016 and 2019. Twenty-nine individuals surviving until March 3...

In the 19th century, Red kite (Milvus milvus) was very common and widespread in Sardinia, but in the mid-900 an important decline occurred. Since the 1970s the species has been studied more continuously, but in recent years the published data seem contradictory. In 2018-2020, authors carried out specific research to collect data on the population o...

As the whole Palearctic steppe system, its iconic bird, the Great Bustard has also suffered from the ex-pansion of intensive agriculture. The species now typically has stable or growing populations only in protected areas, but negative processes are still prevalent even there. In this study, we present a recent change in a part of the natuRa 2000 s...

From 2014 to 2020, 32 black kites from various European countries were tagged with telemetry devices and tracked to study their spatiotemporal behaviour. Eleven birds which crossed the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea directly over large water bodies out of traditional migration routes over the Strait of Gibraltar, the Dardanelles/the Bosporus a...

Predator behaviour can be determined by many factors such as prey availability, individual and habitat characteristics, and intraspecific or interspecific factors. Using satellite telemetry, we document the pattern of spatial responses of the Red Kites (Milvus milvus) to increasing availability of its dominant prey, the Common Vole (Microtus arvali...

Habitat preferences were studied in one juvenile and five adult Saker Falcons Falco cherrug equipped with GPS/GSM loggers (KITE-L, Ecotone, Poland). Adult birds were tagged from 2014 until 2017 in Austria. Juvenile was tagged before release from a rescue centre in the Czech Republic. We defined their temporary settlement areas (TSAs, sites where th...

The European population of Black Kites of the nominate subspecies Milvus migrans migrans (Boddaert, 1783) is estimated at 81,200–109,000 pairs. The birds winter in Africa but their natal dispersal remains largely unstudied. Here, we analyze the behavior of 25 GPS-tracked Black Kites tagged from 2014 until 2018 using GPS/GSM telemetry devices from 1...

Four red kites (Milvus milvus), (siblings, RK1, RK2, RK3 and RK4) from the same nest in north-eastern Austria were tagged with telemetry (GPS/GSM/UHF) loggers on 23 June 2018 during the pulli growth stage and tracked until 5 April 2019. RK1 (female), RK2 (male), RK3 (female) and RK4 (female) occupied post-fledging areas until 1 August 2018 when the...

Zusammenfassung: Im Rahmen von LIFE und LIFE+Projekten konnten erfolgreich Maßnahmen umgesetzt werden, die zu einem deutlichen Bestands-Anstieg der pannoni-schen Population der Großtrappe (Otis tarda) führten. Die positive Bestandsentwicklung wurde durch Lebensraum verbessernde Maßnahmen erreicht. Neben der Anlage von störungsarmen und nahrungsreic...

The gene mcr-1 conferring resistance to last-line antibiotic colistin has been reported globally. Here we describe the first detection of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Russian wildlife, an isolate of Escherichia coli sequence type 2280 from a black kite ( Milvus migrans ), scavenging raptor. Whole genome sequencing and plasmid transferabi...

The gene mcr-1 conferring resistance to last-line antibiotic colistin has been reported globally. Here, we describe the first detection of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Russian wildlife, an isolate of Escherichia coli sequence type 2280 from a black kite (Milvus migrans) scavenging raptor. Whole-genome sequenc-ing and plasmid transferabil...

We characterized the spatiotemporal activities in winter grounds of the tagged Red Kites Milvus milvus originated from Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia and wintering in south-east Europe. Birds arrived to winter grounds in Hungary, Croatia, and Greece from 10 July to 12 December (median 22 October) and departed from winter grounds between 14 Fe...

Until 2018 the Red Kite was considered a regionally extinct breeding species in Croatia and a rare winter visitor in Eastern Slavonia. This paper provides an overview of the results of a satellite telemetry study of Red Kites tagged in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. This is the first comprehensive study on the phenology of the species in...

A total of 13 Red Kites Milvus milvus fitted with GPS/GSM telemetry loggers in central Europe were tracked in Serbia from 10 July 2014 until 31 March 2018. These birds remained in Serbia for 138 days (counted as number of one bird/one day stays). Red Kites occurred mostly in the Vojvodina Province (NW Serbia). They were registered most often in Apr...

The study of a predator's food habits is important in order to understand and derive conclusions regarding its ecology and interaction with the ecosystem. Moreover, food availability is one of the most important factors which affect its habitat quality and foraging site. The aim of this research was to investigate the Imperial Eagle’s winter food h...

The whole area of the River Danube in Vienna, with its three more or less parallel river stretches Donau, Neue Donau and Alte Donau is an important hibernating area for waterbirds. The “Alte Donau” is an intensely used recreation area. Here especially, people take an interest in birds and feed them in winter. For the inhabitants of a city, this clo...

Movemenets of the Red Kites (Mivus milvus) with GPS in Vas County. - We began a GPS/GSM/(UHF) tracking study in 2014 to reveal the poorly known migration and dispersion behavior of the red kite Milvus milvus in central Europe. Since that out of the 120 red kites tagged in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany, 31 occurred in Vas County, Hu...

Results ot Red Kite telemetry in Centeral Europe

In recent years Imperial Eagle observations (Aquila heliaca) in Italy are increasing; during the winter 2016/17 there were at least 3 individuals, two in Sicily and one in Emilia Romagna. One of them born in Slovakia, was equipped with an with an Ecotone GPS-GSM-UHF logger from TB Raab in cooperation with Raptor Protection of Slovakia to increase t...

GPS-based telemetry studies of Central European Red Kites Milvus milvus – methodical difficulties and analytical opportunities based on the initial results Although satellite telemetry increasingly gains in importance in research on birds of prey, there are relatively few telemetry studies on Red Kites Milvus milvus dealing with behavioural aspects...

The genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow of the Great Bustards (Otis tarda) living in Austria-Slovakia-West Hungary (West-Pannonian region), one of the few populations of this globally threatened species that survives across the Palaearctic, has been assessed for the first time in this study. Fourteen recently developed microsatell...

Microsatellite dataset Bustards’ microsatellite genotypes in Genepop format.

Winter oilseed rape represents an important food source for Great Bustards. Great Bustard surveys during four consecutive winters (2005/2006–2008/2009) were used to identify characteristics of oilseed rape fields, which increase their attractiveness for the species in its West Pannonian wintering area. The study was conducted in study areas in East...

At the turn of the 19-20th centuries, the Great Bustard population of the Kisalföld (Little Hungarian Plain) numbered 4000 specimens. By 1990, only about 100 individuals remained in the Hungarian and Austrian territories. Of the many possible negative factors of current times, the greatest pressure on the Great Bustard population stems from unfavor...

In almost every habitat of the Great Bustard collision with aerial cables is one of the most significant anthropogene cause of mortality in the case of individuals able to fly. In the West-Pannonian habitat intensive monitoring has been conducted since 2002 in the course of which the effect of aerial cables for Great Bustards has been investigated...

Great Bustards face many threats, both natural (such as predation and harsh weather conditions) and anthropogenic (collisions with overhead power lines, intensive agriculture, disturbance , habitat fragmentation and-deterioration). Depending on how these issues are addressed in the countries involved, Great Bustard populations may suffer or prosper...

In Europe agricultural intensification is one of the major threats for Great Bustards. In order to address this issue within the Austrian agri-environmental scheme "ÖPUL" (Austrian programme for an environmentally appropriate, extensive and natural habitat friendly agriculture) special measures were implemented in order to (financially) support and...

The population of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), one of the heaviest flying birds and a species that requires large areas of habitat, has declined markedly in Central Eu-rope over much of the 20th century. Important West-Pannonian subpopulations of the Great Bustard can be found to this day between the two capital cities Vienna and Bratislava. The...

The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is considered as „Vulnerable”. The species clearly declined worldwide, it is estimated to be between 44 000 – 51 000 individuals. The west pannon population occurs in three countries separately from other populations and it held at least 376 individuals in 2008/2009 winter. In Northwest Hungary the species occurs only...

This article reports developments in the west Pannonian population of Great Bustard between the years 1900 and 2008/2009. Recent population numbers were acquired by regular monitoring activity at seven main study sites; historic numbers are based on the available lit- erature and in some cases on estimates. Of the seven main areas currently studied...

The Lobau, a former floodplain area of the Danube River situated within the city limits of Vienna (Austria), was strongly affected by the river regulation in 1875. The reduced hydrological connectivity led to an increasing loss of aquatic habitats. A water enhancement scheme with a maximum water input of 0.5 m3 s−1 was initiated in 2001. The presen...

Odonata of the 'Seewinkel' at Lake Neusiedl, Austria: Frequency, population trends, and how endangered they are — In the 'Seewinkel' area, east of Lake Neusiedl, 49 odonate species have been hitherto recorded. Of special importance is the autochthonous occurrence of Lestes macrostigma. The population trends of the various Odonata species have been...

River regulation, urban development and the construction of a hydroelectric power plant have considerably changed the ecological condition of the Danube section in Vienna. In 1997, the previously straight shoreline of the Danube in this area was reconstructed by creating shallow water areas, coves, gravel banks and side channels. These inshore stru...

The ecological status of floodplain areas along the Austrian section of the Danube was assessed by an approach based on dragonfly surveys. Although this river section contains a relatively high portion of the river‐type‐specific alluvial floodplain areas, most of them are influenced by river regulation and damming. A key element of the assessment p...

The results obtained in the Danube Island Monitoring Programme are the basis for management measures which should contribute to improve the migration linkages on the island itself and to provide new habitats particularly in the northern and central parts of the Danube Island.

Zusammenfassung In den drei Jahren 2000 bis 2002 wurden im Rahmen von 129 meist ganztägigen Exkursionen von 35 ausge-wählten Vogelarten die Brutbestände der Wiener Donauinsel erhoben. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden exemplarisch die Ergebnisse von sieben Vogelarten vorgestellt und diskutiert. Von der europaweit gefährdeten Zwergrohrdommel gelang...

Zusammenfassung Die Libellenfauna von neun Standorten am restrukturierten Donauufer sowie das Tritonwasser auf der Donauin-sel wurden von 1998 bis 2001 im Rahmen von 81 Exkursionen untersucht. Im Zuge der systematischen Erhe-bungen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden auf der Donauinsel in den Jahren 1998 bis 2001 an den neun Ufer-standorten insgesamt 14...

Zusammenfassung In den vier Winterhalbjahren 1997/98 bis 2000/01 wurden im Rahmen von jeweils 16 Exkursionen die Wasser-vogelbestände der Donau in Wien sowie der Neuen und der Alten Donau erhoben. Insgesamt wurden 44 Wasservogelarten, sechs Möwenarten sowie acht Hybride bzw. 391313 Individuen festgestellt. Die Lachmöwe war mit maximal 15579 Individ...

Zusammenfassung Die Erhaltung ursprünglicher Gewässer muss primäres Ziel von Wasserwirtschaft und Naturschutz sein. Trotz-dem kann die entsprechende Anlage und Betreuung künstlicher Gewässer in Gebieten, die einen starken Rückgang an Feuchtlebensräumen aufweisen, eine effektive ökologische Ausgleichsmaßnahme darstellen. Die Überprüfung der Wirksamk...

Zusammenfassung Österreich besitzt mit 187 Papillonoidea-und 25 Hesperioidea-Arten (HUEMER & TARMANN 1993) die höchste Artenvielfalt an Tagfaltern unter den mitteleuropäischen Ländern. Infolge zunehmender Intensivierung der Landwirtschaft und Zerstörung intakter Habitate ist in den letzten Jahrzehnten ein drastischer Rückgang an Tagfalterarten zu v...