Download press release here.

Prize winning age and sex-selected predation
In its sixth year, the 2016 Prize for raptor research published last year has been
awarded to Sarah Hoy and colleagues for their paper: ‘Age and sex-selective
predation moderate the overall impact of predators’ published in the Journal
of Animal Ecology. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/13652656.12310/full The authors are: Sarah R. Hoy, Steve J. Petty, Alexandre
Millon, D. Philip Whitfield, Michael Marquiss, Martin Davison and Xavier Lambin
Published in an ecological journal with one of the highest impact factors,
this outstanding paper examined selective predation by goshawks on juvenile
and female tawny owls. The study drew on long-term data exploiting a unique
situation where data from a prey species were obtained over a period of
Goshawk increase.
This annual prize has been established to recognize the most outstanding, peer
reviewed scientific publication on raptor ecology, based on research undertaken
in Europe. Established in the names of the late Donald and Jeff Watson, this
award forms part of a unique initiative to establish the Watson Bird Centre, and
St John’s Town of Dalry in Galloway, SW Scotland, as a bird town.
On reviewing a large number of publications in 2015 the selection panel,
comprising Professors Des Thompson (Chair), Ian Newton FRS and Steve
Redpath, was unanimous in selecting this paper.
In addition, the panel specially commended two other outstanding papers.
Retrofitting of power lines effectively reduces mortality by electrocution in
large birds: an example with the endangered Bonelli's eagle
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12476/abstract
Published in Journal of Applied Ecology by Clément Chevallier, Antonio
Hernández-Matías, Joan Real, Nicolas Vincent-Martin, Alain Ravayrol and
Aurélien Besnard, the paper reported an analysis of 20 years of data to
demonstrate a positive effect of power cable modification on the survival of the
endangered Bonelli's eagle. It is an exemplary piece of applied research
founded on a long-term dataset.
The other paper, published by a previous winner, Fabrizio Sergio, and
colleagues, is entitled:
No effect of satellite tagging on survival, recruitment, longevity,
productivity and social dominance of a raptor, and the provisioning and
condition of its offspring
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12520/abstract
Published in Journal of Applied Ecology. The authors are Fabrizio
Sergio, Giacomo Tavecchia, Alessandro Tanferna, Lidia López Jiménez, Julio
Blas, Renaud De Stephanis, Tracy A. Marchant, Nishant Kumar and Fernando
Hiraldo. This is an excellent study of the impact (lack of) of radio-transmitters on
Black Kites. Using an exceptionally large number of samples, almost every
important aspect of performance (survival probability, longevity, recruitment, age
of first breeding, reproductive performance and timing of breeding) examined
showed no effect of transmitters.
Commenting on the selection, Professor Des Thompson stated: “Superb
research on raptors is being carried out in Europe, and we were struck this year
by the fantastic results coming from long-term studies. These papers should
inspire the next generation of raptor scientists. Again, our Prize Panel was spoilt
for choice given the range of high quality science being published on raptors. ”
Director of the Watson Bird Festival, Roger Crofts, commented: “Watson Birds is
all about celebrating excellence, and the Watson Raptor Science Prize is a
unique contribution. I thank the panel for their meticulous work, and I join the
Panel members to warmly congratulate the authors of the papers. The next step
fr Watson Birds is to ensure that the authors present their results to the general
public. So we are organizing events in spring 2017. “
Notes
1. The Watson Raptor Science Prize is in its sixth year. This annual prize,
established in the name of the late Donald and Jeff Watson, was set up to
recognise the most outstanding, peer-reviewed scientific publication on
raptor ecology, based on research undertaken in Europe.
2. The 2015 Prize was awarded to Fabrizio Sergio and colleagues for their
paper: ‘Individual improvements and selective mortality shape lifelong
migratory performance’, published in Nature.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v515/n7527/abs/nature13696.ht
ml#close. The specially commended papers were by Professor Miguel
Ferrer and colleagues: ‘Using manipulation of density-dependent fecundity
to recover an endangered species: the bearded vulture Gypaetus
barbatus as an example’ in Journal of Applied Ecology.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12308/abstract,
and by Julien Terraube and colleagues, entitled ‘Diet composition and
foraging success in generalist predators: Are specialist individuals better
foragers?’, published in Basic and Applied Ecology.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S143917911400108X
The 2014 Prize was awarded to Klaassen, R. H. G., Hake, M.,
Strandberg, R., Koks, B. J., Trierweiler, C., Exo, K.-M., Bairlein, F., and
Alerstam, T. (2014). When and where does mortality occur in migratory
birds? Direct evidence from long-term satellite tracking of raptors. Journal
of Animal Ecology, 83: 176–184. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12135.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2656.12135/abstract. The
runners’ up was: Trierweiler, C., Mullié, W. C., Drent, R. H., Exo, K.-M.,
Komdeur, J., Bairlein, F., Harouna, A., de Bakker, M., Koks, B. J. (2013).
A Palaearctic migratory raptor species tracks shifting prey availability
within its wintering range in the Sahel. Journal of Animal Ecology,
82: 107–120. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2012.02036.x.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.13652656.2012.02036.x/abstract
The 2013 Prize was awarded to Miguel Ferrer and colleagues for a study
of risks of raptor mortality from wind farms:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.13652664.2011.02054.x/abstract. The runner-up was a study of the former
distribution of golden eagles and sea eagles determined by place names
in Britain and Ireland, awarded to the late Richard Evans and colleagues:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00063657.2012.683388#previ
ew.
The 2012 Prize was awarded to Fabrizio Sergio for his paper: ‘Raptor nest
decorations are a reliable threat against conspecifics’. Science (2011),
331: 327-330. A paper by Arjun Amar and colleagues at the RSPB on
Orkney’s hen harriers was specially commended:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.13652664.2010.01896.x/abstract.
The inaugural 2011 Prize was awarded to Jen Smart and colleagues at
the RSPB for their research paper on persecution of red kites in the
Scottish Highlands:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/smart_amar_sim_et_al_2010_tcm9248263.pdf
Ends.