News from the Strait of Messina

In the last three days we have counted more than one thousand kestrels/lesser kestrels migrating at the Strait of Messina and flying below a cloudy sky. Together with them hundreds of Marsh Harriers, Honey Buzzards and today an adult Egyptian Vulture.

News from the Strait of Messina

Today it has been great migration day here at the Strait of Messina. In particular hundreds of small falcon, most likely Lesser Kestrels have been observed flying high over the Aspromonte highland. Falcons migrated in flocks comprised between 2 and 50 individuals. Moreover in the late afternoon has started an impressive passage of passerines, thousands of swallows, yellow wagtails with some golden orioles and tawny pipits. In the picture below our team after a long day on the field...

XVIII Italian Congress of Ornithology

Between the 17th and the 20th of September there was the Italian Congress of Ornithology. It was held in the beautiful Majella National Park. The Congress has been really interesting thanks also to the participation of many researchers. Our team participated with presentations related to radar monitoring. Here following some pictures of the Congress as well as of the excursion in the Orfento valley and a picture of our team there.

A risky flight

Some days ago the juvenile Black kite in the picture below was found into the sea some km off of the island of Linosa. It was still alive but really weak. After some days of recovery he was successfully released. The mortality of raptors during migration is high for all birds and for inexperienced juveniles in particular. Black Kites during autumn migration concentrate at Channel of Sicily where the distance between Sicily and Africa is narrower. On the other hand in the same season there isn't a migration of experienced (adults) individuals across the islands of Linosa, Lampedusa and Malta because the way passing through these islands should imply a long and risky sea-crossing.

News from the Strait of Messina

Yesterday it was a great migration day over the Aspromonte mountain and the Strait of Messina. Thousands of raptors have passed just a few hours before the arrival of a huge rain storm. The commonest species in these last days are European Common Buzzards, Marsh and Montagu's Harriers. Moreover in the last days we observed a beautiful flock six Rollers and two Eurasian Dottorels. Here below a picture of our watchtower...