Increasing the number of captured migrant buntings at an autumn stopover site using sound lures

Abstract

We compared the number of individuals and juvenile-to-adult ratio of Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica, Black-faced Bunting E. spodocephala, and Reed Bunting E. schoeniclus captured in sound-lured and unlured mist nets at an autumn stopover site during October and November 2004-2011. The numbers of all three buntings captured and the proportion of juveniles of Black-faced and Reed buntings increased with sound luring. Use of sound luring could help further our understanding of migration ecology and conservation of the globally vulnerable Rustic Bunting and its congeners through increasing the number of individuals captured and banded.