BirdLife: The Magazine April-June 2019 | Page 11

tock I B E R I A N Ra m Ph oto o LY N X Pho E U R O P E A N to h Ri c ard Co B E E - E A T E R Lynx pardinus Merops apiaster The Iberian lynx, an emblematic species of the park, is unfortunately now Endangered. Its population fell to around 100 individuals early in the 21st century due to a lack of habitat and a shortage of rabbits, its primary food source. Thanks to habitat restoration and rabbit population monitoring though, its numbers are now on the rise. After wintering in Southern and Western Africa, the European Bee-eater returns to Doñana in groups of 25 or 30 – a colourful spectacle that, once witnessed, is unlikely to be forgotten. Doñana’s sandy riverbanks provide an ideal spot for these vibrant near-passerines to rest, refuel and reproduce. OCT-DEC 2019 2018 • • BIRDLIFE BIRDLIFE APR-JUN 11