A shot in the dark: Sport hunting of declining corvids promotes the inadvertent shooting of threatened red-billed choughs

摘要: Abstract Inadvertent shooting of protected species due to misidentification or spatio-temporal coincidence with more abundant target similar appearance and habits is a frequent side-effect sport hunting. Protected corvid special conservation concern were present in all Spanish Autonomous regions where hunting corvids legally permitted.We assessed the extent which Western jackdaws (Corvus monedula) Red-billed choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) shared distributions central Spain, whether this can cause mortality temporary permanent crippling threatened strictly choughs. About 1000–3000 ‘black corvids’ annually hunted Madrid region without species-specific identification according official statistics. Assuming that these mostly jackdaws, accounted for about 5–20% total estimated winter population declining species. Jackdaws local distribution ranges their abundances spatially correlated during winter. The abundance was positively estimates killed black (including Carrion crows, Corvus corone, not identified statistics). As main impact on non-target be strong—even live individuals temporarily affected by damage flight feathers other wounds, birds crippled life when affects bill body parts. To date, there no framework informed decision-making game management any published evidence-based standardized criteria supported scientific research aimed establish status quotas many common bird Spain. This combination subjectivity lack information makes it near impossible harvesting scheme putting at risk populations Given strong decline currently Spain (especially jackdaw), complete prohibition urgently encouraged attempt avoid exacerbating collapse