Spain

Current Population:

Total 23,300 individuals (2003 census). Within Regions they divide as follows:-

Castilla y Leon: 10,700 (north west)
Extremadura: 6,900 (west central)

Castilla la Mancha: 4,000 (central)

Madrid: 1,200 (central)

Andalucia, Aragon, Navarra and Murcia: combined total 500

Status:

The national population is relatively stable. Many of the smaller groups are in decline, whilst some of the larger populations may be slowly increasing, as at Villafafila (Castilla y Leon) with 2,400 birds.

Habitats Used:

There are two basic types:

In north western areas (Castilla y Leon) the habitats are 80 % cereal, 10 % lucerne (alfalfa) and 10 % fallow.

In west central areas (Extremadura) the habitat is 50 % grassland with 20 % cereal and 20 % fallow.

In either case, a mosaic of suitable vegetation favours Great Bustards.

Conservation:

From 1970 to 1990 a 20 % to 50 % reduction in numbers is thought to have occurred. At least 2,000 birds were shot annually before legal protection in 1980. Regular censuses indicate a relatively stable national population of world importance. Many Great Bustard sites are now designated as ZEPA’s (Special Protection Areas, under EU Birds Directive) eg. Villafafila (Castilla y Leon), Caceres Plains (Extremadura) and Talamanca Plains (north east of Madrid Airport) or as Natura 2000 sites (under EU Habitats Directive) eg. Serena Plains and Brozas Plains (Extremadura). Several EU LIFE Projects have been carried out, for example at Villafafila the purchase of 30 fields for lucerne cropping within adjacent cereal areas has expanded the habitat available for Great Bustards (in cereal plains, 8 % of the area needs to be lucerne/fallow). Uptake of agri-environment schemes to conserve bustards has not been successful in some areas such as Extremadura. Threats include irrigation, loss of fallow, power lines, land abandonment and reversion to scrub, and predation by feral dogs.
website: www.proyectoavutarda.org

Visiting:

North West Spain (Castilla y Leon)
Flights to Valladolid + car hire
Visit Villafafila, (75 km north west of Valladolid). Tower hides and Visitor Centre.
Telephone (00 34) 980 58 60 46)
Accommodation in Villafafila:
Hostal de Los Angele (Telephone (00 34) 980 59 19 29) or hotels in nearby Benavente. Also try area between Frechilla and Guaza de Campos (70 km. north of Valladolid).
Accommodation is at nearby Ampudia, ‘Posada de Ampudia’ (4 Star) Telephone (00 34) 979 76 80 08.

West Central Spain (Extremadura)
Flights to Madrid or Seville + car hire
Best location is Trujillo, Extremadura. Good sites around Trujillo (Belen Plains, and towards Santa Marta da Magasca) also Zorita to Madrigalejo Plains.
To the south of Trujillo, visit the excellent Serena Plains (particularly the central section of the straight minor road which runs for 28 km from north west to south east, ending near Cabeza del Buey).
Recommended Accommodation 10 km south of Trujillo, at St Clemente in two country house hotels favoured by bird watchers:
Finca Santa Marta – A superb old house with gardens and orchards (Henri Elink)
Telephone (00 34) 927 31 92 03
Casa Rural El Recuerdo – A newly renovated country house (Martin Kelsey ex- BLI ornithologist)
Telephone (00 34) 927 31 93 49