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.

News from the Strait of Messina: another Imperial Eagle!

Another Imperial eagle migrated yesterday at the Strait of Messina (here below the picture taken by Giovanni Cumbo). Is unusual to see this species along the Mid-Mediterranean Flyway but the passage of two eagles in the same season is excepcional! Probably these birds spent the winter in Sicily and now are moving back toward their breeding sites in Slovakia or sorrounding areas. 

News from the Strait of Messina

A stunning Pallid Harrier! Weather is still perturbated with strong wind, clouds, rain and even snowfall! Impressive high waves are breaking against the shore. However raptors are passing the same. This male Pallid Harrier migrated today at the Strait of Messina together with dozens of Black Kites and Marsh Harriers (picture by Giovanni Cumbo). 

Eastern Imperial Eagle at the Strait of Messina!

This morning a beautiful Eastern Imperial Eagle has passed over our watchpoint! An immature bird. A great sight! Moreover one Steppe Buzzard, one Goshawk, Marsh Harriers and Sparrowhawks. 

New fieldwork season - spring 2018

The spring is arrived and we are starting a new field season at the Strait of Messina. Our activity will go on from the 15 of March until the 25 of May on the continental side of the Strait in the Aspromonte mountain. As usual volunteers are welcome in Aspromonte, free food and accomodation will be provided also for this year. If you are interested send me an email.

We take this chance to communicate to you that a new paper has been published with the results of our activity at the Strait. The research analysis was lead by the Flight Animal Laboratory of the University of Haifa and shows the effect of wind on the passage on migrants through a fine analysis of radar tracks. The paper has been published on Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology journal (the title here below). Collaboration with other researchers and study groups is one of the aim of our project and any proposal is welcome. 

• Becciu P., Panuccio M., Catoni C., Dell'Omo G. & Sapir N. 2018. Contrasting aspects of tailwinds and asymmetrical response to crosswinds in soaring migrants. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 72(2):28.

Wintering raptors in central Italy

In December and January we perfomed road counts of wintering raptors in central-western Italy. As expected the commonest species were Common buzzards and Kestrels, however several other species were observed. The most unexpected one was the Long-legged buzzard wintering in an inland area of Latium. Taking a first look to the results, the distribution of wintering raptors seems to be really disomogeneous with very low density across most of the investigated territory and a few patches with high density of raptors and well stuctured communities. These areas are located along the coastline whit existing protected areas. Here below one wintering Common buzzard.

Italian raptor biologists in Patagonia

Thanks to the 4th CUIA call for inter-universities projects, the University of Urbino has  carried out a project on the impact of human activities on Patagonian's ecosystems. Professor Riccardo Santolini coordinated the project with the collaboration of prof. A. Catorci from the University of Camerino and M. Berteloti from CENPAT-CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Centro Nacional Patagónico). The fieldwork was carried out in the Valdez Peninsula (Argentina) across 451 km in november 2012 and april 2013. 95 raptors were observed (43 in 2012 and 52 in 2013) belonging to 9 different species. The commonest observed raptors were  Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and Chimango caracara (Milvago chimango). The results of this project are published here:

• Pruscini F., Morelli F., Perna P., Mazzeo R., Cavitolo P., Bertellotti M., Catorci A. & Santolini R. 2016. Roadside raptor surveys in Valdes Peninsula (Patagonia, Argentina). Hornero 31: 7-11.

Here below a picture of the field team (from the left P. Perna, F. Pruscini, R. Santolini, F. Tardella, A. Catorci e S. Cesaretti) and a picture of a female Variable hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma).