Wintering raptors in Armenia

This winter we made different surveys on wintering birds of prey. In particular we carried out a research in Armenia together with Siranush Tumanyan from the Acopian Center for the Environment of the American University of Armenia (please click on the link to visit the website). We made some hundreds km of car transects, moreover we monitored wetlands, dumps and chicken factories of western Armenia. During the survey we observed 10 species of raptors and remarkable concentrations of Black Kites. On the pictures below: Black Kites, a Long-legged Buzzard and the researchers team.

Steppe Buzzard in Abruzzo (Central Italy)?

A Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus) may have been observed in Abruzzo near the town of Atri (TE) not far from the Adriatic coast by Davide Ferretti e Marco Cirillo. This subspecies is uncommon but regular during migration periods in Italy. Here following a couple of nice pictures of that bird made by Davide Ferretti some days ago.

A new Ph.D. dissertation

Last week Michele Panuccio discussed his Ph.D. dissertation made within MEDRAPTORS research projects at the University of Pavia.

His thesis analyzed factors influencing the migratory behaviour of raptors in the Mediterranean area. Among them: morphology, geography, flocking behaviour, orientation, information transmission, weather conditions.

In particular was investigated the migration of four species: the Short-toed Snake Eagle, the European Honey Buzzard, the Western Marsh Harrier and the Black Kite.

Used methods were: visual observations in Italy and Greece, ring recovey analysis, modeling.

• Michele Panuccio - Across and around a barrier: migration ecology of raptors in the Mediterranean basin. University of Pavia, a.a. 2010/2011.

Raptors and powerlines

Few days ago a dead individual of Common Buzzard was found by rangers in the Natural Reserve of Decima Malafede (Rome). This raptor was found under a power line and probably was killed by the collision with this transmission line. Further investigations are needed to know how many birds collide with power lines in Italy in order to limit this detrimental situation for raptors.

New paper out now!

A new paper from Medraptors is just out now. The article compares the spring and fall migration of Short-toed Snake Eagles at the Apuan Alps and in a new watchpoint in Greece, the Mount Olympus. The results of this research show that also the Greek population of this species makes a long detour to avoid crossing the Mediterranean, via Bosphorus, both in autumn and in spring. In the article are analyzed and discussed differences in the percentages of juveniles migrating together with adults in the autumn at both sites. These results are put in relation with the width of ecological barriers in the study area, assuming that a relationship exists between the size of the stretch of sea that divides Europe from Africa and the tendency of juveniles to follow the adults during their first migration.

• Panuccio M, Agostini N, G Premuda 2012. Ecological barriers Promote risk minimization and social learning in migrating short-toed snake eagles. Ethology Ecology & Evolution 24: 74-80.

Second Eurapmon workshop

Last week was held the second Eurapmon meeting in Murcia (Spain). Tens of researchers from 27 different countries of Europe, from Portugal to Russia, took part at the workshop. During the two days meeting, the National Coordinators showed the monitoring activities that are already active in the different countries. Moreover it was discussed a questionnaire to complete an inventary of the monitoring projects "with" and "for" raptors in Europe. For Italy ISPRA presented the actual situation. The new website is already active (to see it click here). Here below a picture of the workshop.

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.