Hunting Black Kites

Yesterday in the late morning a flock of at least 41 Black Kites was observed hunting for flying insects. The observation was made in  Decima Malafede  Natural Reserve, south-west of Rome (Central Italy). The Black Kite is an opportunistic feeder that exploits peaks of food resources. Similar hunting activities were reported during migration in Israel where flocks of Black Kites were observed hunting for flying termites and locusts. While it is known that this species forages in communal hunting grounds. Here following some pictures of this event.

Spring/Summer 2012

We greet the new born falcons!

Somebody knows this bird?

This hobby was photographed few weeks ago at the island of Ustica during migration and seems to have decolored feathers. If someone have further informations could contact us?

New Medraptors papers

On the last number of Avocetta (Italian journal of ornithology) has been published a new paper concerning raptor migration at the Channel of Sicily. At the island of Marettimo (western Sicily), in late autumn, concentrate hundreds raptors en route to Africa. Most of them are juvenile short-toed snake eagles. Since their reluctance to start the water crossing, the count of them appears to be difficult. This paper discusses the results of two different census methods also in relation to weather conditions. This research was realized together with LIPU - Bird Life Italy, (To download it click on title below):

• Panuccio M., Gustin M. & Bogliani G. 2011. A comparison of two methods for monitoring migrating broad-winged Raptors approaching a long water crossing. Avocetta 35: 13-17.

Moreover a long abstract of the Ph.D. thesis of Michele Panuccio has been published on the scientific journal of the University of Pavia, Scientifica Acta (To download it click on the title below):

• Panuccio Michele 2011. Across and around a barrier: migration ecology of raptors in the Mediterranean basin.Scientifica Acta 5, No. 1, EEG 27-36.

Black Kite tagged in Spain and photographed in Italy

 A Black Kite has been tagged at the Strait of Gibraltar in autumn 2010 by Fundacion Migres. Some days ago, after one year and half, Vincenzo Vorrasi has taken a picture of the same individual in Basilicata (Southern Italy). Here below the interesting photo.

 

New B.Sc. thesis!

Some days ago, at the University of Siena, Lina Lucia has discussed a B.Sc. thesis realized within Medraptors projects. In particular that research focused on the distribution and the habitat selection of raptors in Basilicata (Southern Italy).

The brave Honey Buzzards

Today, about 300 Honey Buzzards were observed migrating through the island of Ustica (southern Italy). The flyway across the Tyrrhenian sea implies a long water crossing of about 230 km. Those raptors fly for at least four hours over sea using powered flapping flight sometimes also during night!