New papers out now!

In these first weeks 2013  two new papers have been published relying on raptor migration and wintering. 

The first one is published on Bird Study and shows, through a ringing recoveries analysis, the leap-frog migration patterns of Western Marsh Harriers. Individuals "breeding in Northern and Eastern Europe migrate farther than individuals belonging to the populations within Western and Southern Europe, with no effect of age classes in relation to the latitude of wintering." Moreover "Males show a tendency to migrate longer distances than females" and "when taking into account only birds wintering south of the Sahara desert, juveniles winter further west than adults". The latter result "could be related to the different ability of experienced individuals to compensate for the wind drift of dominant easterly winds during migration over the desert in autumn.".

The other paper compares the autumn migration of Western Marsh Harriers and juvenile European Honey Buzzards through Greece. The paper is published on Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki. The results of this study show two different migration strategies, the Western Marsh Harriers "migrate through parallel flyways, while juvenile European Honey Buzzards migrate island hopping being attracted by landmarks and following leading lines of land masses.". The reason of this different migratory behaviour could be related to morphological differences in the two species. "A simulation process demonstrated marked differences in the energy consumption rates between the two species, highlighting that the powered flapping flight is particularly more disadvantageous for the European Honey Buzzard rather than for the Western Marsh Harrier".

Here following the links to read the papers:

• Panuccio M., Mellone U. & Muner L. 2013. Differential wintering area selection in Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus): a ringing recoveries analysis. Bird Study http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2012.753399.
• Panuccio M., Chiatante G. & Tarini D. 2013. Two different migration strategies in response to an ecological barrier: Western Marsh Harriers and juvenile European Honey Buzzards crossing the central-eastern Mediterranean in autumn. Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki 19: 10-18.

Moreover are available the abstracts of two presentations made at two recent congresses  held in Italy last autumn:

• Panuccio M., Agostini N. & Barboutis C. 2012. Raptor migration in Greece: a review. Proceedings of the II Italian Conference on raptors: 16-17, Treviso, October 2012.
• Catoni C., Santini M., Panuccio M., Massa B. & Dell’Omo G. 2012. Radar applications to study bird behaviour. Proceedings of the XXV Meeting of the Italian Society of Etology: 43, Viterbo, September 2012.

Approaching deadline for the Grundtvig scholarship

These are the last days to apply for the Grundtvig scholarship to participate at the training course on raptor migration research tecniques. THE DEADLINE TO SEND THE APPLICATION FOR SCHOLARSHIP IS ON JANUARY THE 16th. The course will be held next May in Pachino, Sicily. There is the chance to apply for scholarships  provided from the UE (eligible: citizens of the 27 Member States of the EU with the exception of the Italian people, citizens of countries of the European Economic Area-EEA countries and of Candidate countries).  You can find the call with information about the course and the scholarship at the following link: 

http://www.raptormigration.org/MEDRAPTORS-projects2007.htm

Presentations will range among different topics of animal movement research using different methods (visual observations, long-term monitoring programs, radar tracking, GPS, GSM, GLS) and focusing their study on different aspect of bird migration (ecology, ethology, conservation, influence of climate change). Among the speakers Alejandro Onrubia (Fundacion Migres), Giacomo Dell'Omo (Ornis Italica) and the Medraptors staff. Moreover there will be the chance to visit some Important Bird Areas of south-east Sicily. For further information and help in compile the application form and write an email to: Natalia Carpanzano (legambiente.eu.projects@gmail.com).

Best wishes for the new year 2013 from Medraptors. In the hope of a better, prosperous and sustainable new year, for all of us and for our planet.

Antikythira Bird Observatory - spring 2013

Antikythira Bird Observatory, run by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (the Greek partner of BirdLife), is organizing a bird ringing campaign, supervised by the Hellenic Bird Ringing Center. They are searching for ringers and helpers to join as volunteers for the spring season of 2013.

For more information on the project and logistics please click here. 

Raptor migration in the Mediterranean basin: research techniques and future perspectives

Apply for a Grundtvig-EU scholarship to participate in the training “Raptor migration in the Mediterranean basin: research techniques and future perspective” - in Sicily, Italy.

Are you interested in learning more about the topic of “Raptor migration in the Mediterranean basin: research techniques and future perspective” and how effectively integrate it in your professional field?

The training course, organized by Legambiente, an Italian environmental organization, takes place in Pachino, in the province of Siracusa (Sicily). The structure is surrounded by typical Mediterranean atmosphere of the Hyblean countryside. The course is unique in the field as it will be developed with the methodology of hands-on.

The scientific and didactic activity is supervised by MEDRAPTORS (Mediterranean Raptor Migration Network), a N:G:O: with a long experience in the field of raptor migration (http://www.raptormigration.org). Among the speakers, different researchers who have worked in the field of animal movement research using different methods (visual observations, long-term monitoring programs, radar tracking, GPS, GSM, GLS) and focusing their study on different aspect of bird migration (ecology, ethology, conservation, influence of climate change).

Browse the link below to see the detailed program. Apply for a Grundtvig-EU scholarship to participate in this training: 

http://ec.europa.eu/education/trainingdatabase/index.cfm?fuseaction=DisplayCourse&cid=35044

People that can apply to the scolarship:

· the citizens of the 27 Member States of the European Union

· countries of the European Economic Area-EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Swiss Confederation)

· Candidate countries (Turkey, Croatia)

For the year 2013 there will be two courses:

- SESSION 1 : 13/05/2013 - 17/05/2013

- SESSION 2 : 30/09/2013 - 04/10/2013

The fixed application deadlines for the year 2013 are the following:

- 16/01/2013 (for training starting on 13/05/2013)

- 30/04/2013 (for training starting on 30/09/2013)

N.B. This training Scholarships can be requested for participation to this training from your National Grundtvig Agency which will cover the participation fee, transportation, accommodation and meals. Please check the list of all European agencies in charge of Lifelong learning programmes to find the agency in your country:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/national_en.htm

Please contact your National Agency because in some cases are not accepted more than two candidates for each organization (university, association, etc.).

If interested, please follow the steps below:

1) Download the application form “Grundtvig In-Service Training Application eForm 2012" on your National Agency website.

2) Fill in the application form with all information necessary to complete your enrolment request. Notify our association your intention to enroll in the course.

3) Please submit the file, print out the application form and send it out via regular mail to you National Agency.

If you need more details or support in filling in your scholarship application please feel free to contact the organisers at the contact details indicated below.

We look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Best regards

Dr. NATALIA CARPANZANO

Training Course Director - Legambiente Onlus

legambiente.eu.projects@gmail.com

Spectacular migration of Griffon Vultures at the Strait of Gibraltar

In November at the Strait of Gibraltar a very singular and spectacular event takes place: the migration of the Griffon Vultures. These birds are large and heavy and they are not made to fly over water surfaces. Therefore they wait on the spanish side of the Strait for a sunny day without wind to attempt the crossing and reach Africa. Unfortunately we are in November and days in good weather conditions are not common. As a result it is not rare the catch the sight of huge flocks of vultures flying over the hills between the towns of Tarifa and Algeciras. Up to 1000 of Griffon Vultures together is an incredible sight, as you can see from the pictures below. To see more pictures click here: Michele Panuccio Blog.

Booted Eagles at the Strait of Messina

Here following an amazing picture of a juvenile Booted Eagle made at the Strait of Messina by Giuseppe Martino. November is a month were tens, or even hundreds, individuals of this species cross the Strait to winter in Sicily. This autumn good numbers of eagles were observed also in late October passing over the Airport of Reggio Calabria.