Effects of a sea barrier on large-scale migration patterns studied by a network of weather radars

ABSTRACTCapsule: Nocturnal passerine migration patterns were studied by a network of weather radars within the East-Atlantic flyway providing large-scale information on the effect of a geographical barrier.Aims: The aim of this study was to obtain a large-scale spatial overview of the effects of a sea barrier on migratory flyways in northern Spain/western France.Methods: Weather radar data were used from five sites at the Bay of Biscay during nights in spring 2015 to calculate flight directions and migration traffic rates (MTRs).Results: The highest MTRs were registered by the radars at the southeastern edge of the bay, with a gradual decrease northwards. Spring migration direction was generally NNE/NE. Continuous nocturnal migration pattern indicated migration over land in the south. The radar half way up the French coast exhibited bimodal migration intensities at night, indicating sea crossing, and the northernmost corner of the bay showed little migration.Conclusions: Radar patterns indicated migration...