Resumen de Factors ock scolopax rusticola in a mediterranean region of South Europe (Moncayo Natural Park)
Most of the breeding areas of the small sedentary population of Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola in the Peninsula Iberica is unknown. Some work has been performed in the north face ofthe Cantabrian Mountains (Asturias, Northern Spain) of atlantic climate, while in areas of mediterranean climate the actual situation is unknown. This is the case of Moncayo Natural Park located to the west of Aragon, here didn´t exist breeding information since 1976. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that condition the habitat in breeding period in this area of mediterranean climate, also to study their breeding characteristics. In the first place in the year 2015 I did a census data of roding activity, that with existing bibliography I used to select the factors that have conditioned the potential habitat. With the potential habitat I have created aspecific sampling grid for this area. In the year 2016 I did a census data of roding activity using the specific sampling grid. The percentage of positive points changed from 20% in 2015 to 62,5% in 2016. The Woodcock has occupied forest of Pinus sylvestris (n=3), Fagus sylvatica (n=1) and mixed forest of Pinus sylvestris, Quercus pyrenaica and Betula ssp (n=1). The occupied forest by Woodcock have abundant underbrush or vegetation structure would offer protection agains predators. Sites selected by Woodcock was above 1000 m and at places of not-direct sunligh. Taking everything into account I propose that the food (earthworms) and protection from predators are the factors that condition of Woodcock and not only the vegetation. Therefore in areas withh mediterranean climate the Woodcock select forest at higher altitudes than areas withatlantic climate moreover at places of not-direct sunligh as they are the zones with edaphic moisture to host earthworm. The roding characteristics doesn´t differ from that recorded in the rest of the country so the climatic region doesn´t influence.
