Seminar of raptor migration - University of Florence

Next week, on thursday the 12th, a seminar on raptor migration will be held at the University of Florence. Michele Panuccio from Medraptors will keep a presentation about research techniques and will show some case studies of migrating birds of prey.

Here following the alert:

Call for volunteers at the Strait of Gibraltar!

There is a great opportunity to partecipate at one of the most important monitoring  project of migrating raptors. The Migres Foundation is looking for volunteers:

Migres Foundation is launching its 2013 call for researchers for the monitoring of migratory birds in the Strait of Gibraltar. Migres is a scientific programme for the long-term study and monitoring of migratory birds through the Strait of Gibraltar. Since 1997, Migres Programme is based on systematic and standardised bird counting which provides comparable results year after year. Furthermore, Migres actively contributes to environmental education and social awareness of bird and habitat conservation. This programme also aims to train those people interested in bird identification, census techniques and migratory bird studies. For this reason, we open this call to all those interested in our studies on migratory birds in the Strait of Gibraltar. 

You can find more information at the Migres Foundation website www.fundacionmigres.org or ask for additional information by email at: colaboradores@fundacionmigres.org

Darwin Day

Darwin Day is an international celebration of science and humanity held on  February 12, the day when Charles Darwin was born in 1809. Specifically, it celebrates the discoveries and life of Charles Darwin, the man who first described biological evolution via natural selection with scientific rigor.
We celebrate the Darwin Day because we believe it is very important to popularize the scientific method and the basis of the evolutionary science also because of the attempts to go back at level knowledge before Darwin. Or why not, before Newton...

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. 

Poaching in Tuscany

Poachers have shot  two Bald Ibises and a Short-eared Owl in Tuscany. Illegal hunting could frustrate the conservationist effort and the ambitious reintroduction project of the Bald Ibis in Austria.
Here follows the press release of the WWF Italy:

Abbattuti a fucilate 2 ibis eremiti a San Vincenzo (LI)
Si pensava che negli ultimi anni in Val di Cornia gli effetti della caccia sulla fauna particolarmente protetta  si stessero affievolendo. Stamani  invece siamo tornati alla dura realtà di sempre che vede la caccia come un'attività fortemente contraria alla conservazione delle specie selvatiche, oltretutto rarissime. Al confine nord del bosco di Rimigliano nel Comune di San Vincenzo sono stati abbattuti da "chi ama la Natura" due superbi esemplari di ibis eremita, specie ormai estinta in Europa da circa 200 anni ed oggetto dell'impegnativo ed ambizioso progetto austriaco di reintroduzione in Europa della specie,  il Waldrappen Projekt, che cerca di ripristinare nei soggetti nati in cattività l'indole migratoria tipica della specie. Per questo, nei primi voli dal luogo di nascita verso i siti di svernamento del Mediterraneo, i giovani vengono accompagnati da un ultraleggero che li aiuta a memorizzare la rotta di migrazione per poi giungere fino all'Oasi WWF Laguna di Orbetello dove questi uccelli, dediti al pascolamento, sono in grado di alimentarsi autonomamente ed acquisire la selvaticità in un ambito protetto. Ma l'idiozia di chi imbraccia un fucile ha spezzato il sogno di rivedere questa specie volare nuovamente sopra le nostre teste. Un esemplare è morto, l'altro, portato prontamente dalla Polizia Provinciale al CRUMA Lipu di Livorno presenta frattura all'ulna ed al femore. Entrambi erano dotati di gps satellitare per la registrazione della rotta di migrazione e di anelli colorati per il riconoscimento visivo a distanza.

One million raptors at Batumi!

Autumn 2012 will be a season to remember since the striking number of a million of migrating raptors has been reached for the first time by the Ornithologists of Batumi Raptor Count. This great result highlights once more the importance of South-West Georgia for the migration of raptors as well as the importance of the monitoring project of BRC. It is possible to find more pictures and info on their website: Batumi Raptor Count

Martin Schneider-Jacoby

We are deeply grieved by sad news of the departure of the 

Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby.
_____________________________________

The observations of the Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby at the island of Lastovo in Dalmatia have confirmed, about ten years ago, the hypothesis that a relevant flow of Honey Buzzards crosses the Adriatic sea in Autumn reaching the Africa through the Central Mediterranean area. This finding was the chance for us to know Martin Schneider-Jacoby and his enthusiastic approach to the protection and study of the Balcans wildlife. We are terribly sorry for this loss.

With deep sympathy to Martins wife and childrens.

Here below the epitaph of the EuroNatur Foundation.

"On 15th August 2012 Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby died after a brief, severe illness at the age of 56. Ever since the founding of EuroNatur 25 years ago - and so for virtually half his life - he threw himself into the task of preserving the natural heritage of Europe: his commitment never faltered. His dedicated work for nature conservation in the Balkans, a part of Europe he held very dear, is especially deserving of mention as is - equally – his passionate campaigning for the protection and habitat of migratory birds. It was not only the EuroNatur foundation that benefi ted from his store of experience, enriched over the many years. A far-reaching network of nature conservation partners over the whole of Europe benefi ted equally. His deep love of nature made Martin Schneider-Jacoby an excellent fi eld biologist, who knew as no-one else did how to infect others with his enthusiasm. The death of Martin Schneider-Jacoby is a heavy loss. We miss not only our longestserving member of staff and his exceptional competence in his fi eld but also a colleague and friend we have all valued. We cannot replace Martin Schneider-Jacoby. But we can do our utmost to carry on what he began in the way he meant it to be. Our heartfelt thanks go to him for his many years of exceptional commitment and involvement. And we wish to express our sincere sympathies to his immediate circle, his wider family and to all those who were close to him. 

The EuroNatur Presidency and the EuroNatur Team"

TRAINING ACTIVITY: "CULTURE AND NATURE IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT"

Do you fancy attending a free educational training in Sicily?

We are an Italian environmental organization who has recently been granted for a Grundtvig in-service training about “CULTURE AND NATURE IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT”. The course is completely free* and fully funded by the European Union and will take place in the Sicily from September 24rd to September 28th, 2012.

Please find here the official EU directory training database link:

The deadline for submitting applications is April 30th, 2012. If interested, please follow the steps below:

1) Download the application form “Grundtvig In-Service Training Application eForm 2012".

2) Please submit the file, print out the application form and send it out via regular mail to the address of your national agency.

For further information contact:
NATALIA CARPANZANO
Training Course Director - Legambiente
legambiente.eu.projects[at]gmail.com

*The package includes travel, accommodation, meals, transportation and trainings.

Antikythira - spring 2012: Volunteers needed

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) and a raptor migration monitoring campaign. Both monitoring campaigns will run from March 25th up to May 25th 2012 on Antikythira Island (Southern Greece).
We are seeking ringers and observers to join us as volunteers, to help us carry out the two campaigns.
Information on the accommodation provided, the volunteers’ tasks, how to get there, and other frequently asked questions can be found here: www.ornithologiki.gr
To see our papers concerning raptor migration in Antikythira click here: Medraptors - papers
For more information please get in contact with Christos Barboutis (barboutischr[at]gmail.com).

A Peregrine Falcon from tundra to Apulia

Here following a nice picture (by Matteo Caldarella) of a beautiful, and unusual, young female of Peregrine Falcon of the calidus subspecies. This bird was recovered with a slight fracture and happily released the past spring in Apulia (Southern Italy).
To read more (in italian) click here.

Welcome back Osprey!

After 42 years Osprey is back in Italy!

This is really a good piece of news, since the last breeding pairs were recorded in Italy in the '60s. Now a pair is feeding two chicks on the coast of Tuscany, central Italy. This is a good result that rewards conservation efforts of the Maremma Regional Park.
The Mediterranean population consist of only 100 pairs located in Corsica, Balearic islands, Algeria and Morocco. Now we hope that they constitute a stable population in Italy.
(In the picture below a view of the Maremma Regional Park)

Breeding Egyptian Vultures monitored by Fundacion Migres

Yesterday a pair of Egyptian Vultures was already in the nest in Cádiz Province, Spain. However in these days many individuals of this species are still migrating from Africa to Europe.

In the picture below Antonio-Román Muñoz of Migres Foundation monitoring cliffs nesting raptors in Andalusia (southern Spain). The aims of this Foundation include different kind of activities: researches on migrating raptors and ecology, monitoring raptor population, wildlife management, popularization and educational programs (see their website: www.fundacionmigres.org).

Blood samples requested for Circus pygargus DNA analyses

A colleague from Spain, J. T. Garcia, needs some help for a research, in particular he needs blood samples for Circus pygargus DNA analyses. If you can help him, read the post and answer.

As a part of an unfinanced research on Montagu’s Harrier focused in phylogeography of the species, I’m seeking blood/tissue samples to be used in studies of population genetics and phylogeny, which will be useful in the conservation of this threatened species. I have collected samples from different populations and have used some original DNA samples provided by different harrier’s workers. I would also like to expand the database to include new Circus species and populations. Unfortunately, I lack some populations of Europe to finish the laboratory work. Please see below and let me know at jesus.ggonzalez@uclm.es if you have already taken samples (e.g. from past fieldwork, birds dead, etc) from Montagu’s or related Circus species. It is important to record the locality and date the sample was taken and any other relevant information. Samples should be mailed directly to my lab. I will acknowledge adequately all contributors.
Detailed Directions:
1) Blood (one-two drops) or tissue (0,5 cm2) samples can be sent in eppendorf-like tubes (preferably stored in ethanol 99%, but not necessary). If you wish, you may also send samples in Zipper bags (for tissue samples).

2) Please, label each sample independently with your name, sampling date, origin of sample and storage conditions (conservation buffer, frozen samples, etc).

Shipping address:
Jesus T. Garcia
Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinégéticos (IREC-CSIC)
Ronda de Toledo s/n
13005 Ciudad Real.
Spain
E-mail: jesus.ggonzalez@uclm.es

New year, new blog

This is the new Medraptors blog's.

With the first post we link an interview to Ugo Mellone concerning our network:

http://europeanraptors.org/interviews/interview_medraptors_ugo_mellone.html