Abstract of the Conference: "The migration of soaring birds. The role of the Adriatic coast"

Are available online the abstracts of the conference that has been held on October the 7th in Urbino "The migration of soaring birds. The role of the Adriatic coast".
Among them also the Medraptors contribution.

To download it (in italian) click on the picture below.

Italy signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Raptors

On October the 22nd 2008, it was concluded in Abu Dhabi (UAE), under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Fauna, a Memorandum of Understanding on the conservation of migratory birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia (Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia), also known as a Memorandum of Understanding on Birds of Prey.

On the same date it was signed by 28 states and the Convention of the 1st November 2008 entered into force.
The protocol in question, non-legally binding , contains a list of general conservation measures, guidance on the application and final provisions. It is also accompanied by an action plan indicating a series of specific steps that should be implemented by the signatory countries.

On November 21, 2011 Italy signed the Protocol: The signing took place during the Tenth Conference of the Parties to CMS, held in Bergen in Norway, 20 to 25 November 2011.

To download the text of the Protocol click here.
For further information see the website: www.cms.int

Antikythira - spring 2012: Volunteers needed

Antikythira Bird Observatory run by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (the Greek partner of BirdLife) is organizing a bird ringing campaign (supervised by the Hellenic Bird Ringing Center) and a raptor migration monitoring campaign. Both monitoring campaigns will run from March 25th up to May 25th 2012 on Antikythira Island (Southern Greece).
We are seeking ringers and observers to join us as volunteers, to help us carry out the two campaigns.
Information on the accommodation provided, the volunteers’ tasks, how to get there, and other frequently asked questions can be found here: www.ornithologiki.gr
To see our papers concerning raptor migration in Antikythira click here: Medraptors - papers
For more information please get in contact with Christos Barboutis (barboutischr[at]gmail.com).

Happy new year from Medraptors

New paper out now!

Loop migration of Greek Honey Buzzards

A new paper from Medraptors is just out now. It is the first systematic study on Honey Buzzard migration along the Balkans-Crete-Libya flyway. The results of this research show that individuals breeding in Greece migrate through the island of Antikhytira in autumn but not during spring migration. In the paper, two different hypothesis are discussed, both suggest a loop migration strategy as an explanation of their migratory behaviour.
To download it click on the link below.

• Agostini N., Lucia G., Mellone U., Panuccio M., Von Hardenberg J., Evangelidis A. & Kominos T. 2012. Loop migration of adult European Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus, Linnaeus, 1758) through the Central-Eastern Mediterranean. Italian Journal of Zoology DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2011.623245.

Photographic report Batumi 2011

On the photographic blog of Michele Panuccio a report on the autumn migration at Batumi, Georgia, has been posted. The pictures show aspects of raptor migration and human threats (poaching and trapping). To see it click on the picture below.

XVI Italian Congress of Ornithology

Last September there was the sixteenth Italian Congress of Ornithology. Medraptors was present with two posters that can be downloaded from the link below. The first showed the results of a research on raptors wintering in Basilicata (Southern Italy) and the other one reported information on migrating raptors on Mount Olympus (Northern Greece). Both are in press on the volume of conference proceedings.

• Panuccio M., Agostini N. & Bogliani G. 2011. Mount-Olympus: a new raptor migration bottle-neck in northern Greece. XVI Italian Ornithological Congress, Cervia September 2011.
• Lucia G., Panuccio M., Agostini N. & Bogliani G. 2011. A two-year study of wintering raptors in Basilicata (southern Italy). XVI Italian Ornithological Congress, Cervia September 2011.