Data from: Migration routes and staging areas of trans-Saharan Turtle Doves appraised from light-level geolocators

The identification of migration routes, wintering grounds and stopover
sites are crucial issues for the understanding of the Palearctic-African
bird migration system as well as for the development of relevant
conservation strategies for trans-Saharan migrants. Using miniaturized
light-level geolocators we report a comprehensive and detailed year round
track of a granivorous trans-Saharan migrant, the European Turtle Dove
(Streptopelia turtur). From five recovered loggers, our data provide new
insights on migratory journeys and winter destinations of Turtle Doves
originating from a breeding population in Western France. Data confirm
that Turtle Doves wintered in West Africa. The main wintering area
encompassed Western Mali, the Inner Delta Niger and the Malian/Mauritanian
border. Some individuals also extended their wintering ranges over North
Guinea, North-West of Burkina Faso and the Ivory-Coast. Our results reveal
that all individuals did not spend the winter period at a single location;
some of them experienced a clear eastward shift of several hundred
kilometres. We also found evidence for a loop migration pattern, with a
post-breeding migration flyway lying west of the spring route. Finally, we
found that on their way back to breeding grounds Turtle Doves needed to
refuel after crossing the Sahara desert. Contrary to previous suggestions,
our data reveal that birds used stopover sites for several weeks,
presumably in Morocco and North Algeria. This later finding is a crucial
issue for future conservation strategies because environmental conditions
on these staging areas might play a pivotal role in population dynamics of
this declining species.