Hoe vergaat het onze langeafstandtrekkers die in Afrika overwinteren?

In this contribution we review the knowledge on Dutch long-distance migrants wintering in Africa Ringing and in particular tracking studies reveal that most migrants follow a western migration route to Africa (Fig. 1). Central and eastern routes are used by some species wintering in East-Africa (e.g. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio). Species wintering in wetlands have increased in breeding population size, whereas species that use forests and forest-savanna have declined (Fig. 2). Species differ in the extent in which they use the Sahel (Fig. 3). Some species winter in the Sahel, spending often about half a year in this climate zone. Other species use the Sahel for a stopover, and others again do not visit the Sahel during their annual cycle at all. For eight species, a positive effect of the amount of rain in the western Sahel and annual population growth was found (Fig. 4). Lastly, population regulation in migrants is discussed, stressing that populations can be limited at the breeding or wintering site or or at both (Fig. 5).