News from the Strait of Messina

The last two days were amazing for raptor migration at the Strait of Messina. About 4000 Honey Buzzards were counted from our watchpoint. An impressive stream of soaring birds, also with several observed species. Here below the end of the day from our field station.

News from the Strait of Messina

Monday and Tuesday were to epic days of migration at the Strait of Messina. Impressive numbers of Montagu's harriers together with Pallid and Marsh Harriers dominate the passage. However we recorded also the first intense passage of Honey Buzzards and Bee-eaters and small numbers of many other species. Amazing! (Pic. by G. Cumbo)

News from the Strait of Messina

Last two days were really good for migration at the Strait of Messina with hundreds of raptors observed from different watchpoints. Most of them were Marsh, Montagu's and Pallid harriers but we observed also Booted eagles, Short-toed Eagles, Ospreys, Sparrowhawks and Black Kites, together with small numbers of Black and White Storks.

MEDRAPTORS' papers in the top ten of ornithological journals

Two papers written by MEDRAPTORS' members appeared in the top ten of the most downloaded papers of Ibis (https://www.bou.org.uk/ibis/downloaded-ibis-papers-2017/) and Ardeola in 2017 (here below). This is a great result highlighting the appreciation of ornithological community towards our research activity! 

Tagged Black Kites are still in Western Africa

Despite most of Black kites have already arrived in Italy our tagged kites are still in Western Africa. Even more, one of them is moving southward between Benin and Ghana and in the last hours this individual flew some hundreds  km  towards a  southwestern direction. Both the tagged Black kites are immature birds and it is not uncommon that Palearctic raptors spend their first summer in the wintering grounds. In the next weeks we'll find out if they will come back to Italy this summer or not.