Dead Sea level decline pushed a sensitive ecosystem out of equilibrium, causing the relocation of a colonial bird breeding site

ABSTRACT Capsule Dead Sea Sparrows Passer moabiticus transferred their historical breeding colony location, following geo-ecological and hydrological changes, to a new, less arid zone within a nature reserve. Aims To find biotic and abiotic factors affecting the choice of nest sites by Dead Sea Sparrows, in order to locate potential breeding areas and plan in advance for their protection. Methods Mapping old and new nest sites of Dead Sea Sparrows within Einot Tzukim nature reserve, Dead Sea Valley, and using anthropogenic and geo-ecological GIS layers, we created a map of the potential preferred breeding colony area. Results We found the biotic and abiotic factors affecting nest site preference of Dead Sea Sparrows, which included areas far from human activity, areas close to historic springs, and areas affected by a major fire. New areas in the reserve exposed by the retreating Dead Sea were inhabited by the birds, which gradually transferred their breeding centre to a less arid zone within the reserve. Conclusion When managing colonial breeding sites, it is crucial to understand the role of both natural and anthropogenic influences in order to prioritize sites for conservation and management. Producing a preference map, based on such data, can help managers locate potential breeding areas and plan in advance for their protection.