XVIII Italian Congress of Ornithology

Between the 17th and the 20th of September there was the Italian Congress of Ornithology. It was held in the beautiful Majella National Park. The Congress has been really interesting thanks also to the participation of many researchers. Our team participated with presentations related to radar monitoring. Here following some pictures of the Congress as well as of the excursion in the Orfento valley and a picture of our team there.

A risky flight

Some days ago the juvenile Black kite in the picture below was found into the sea some km off of the island of Linosa. It was still alive but really weak. After some days of recovery he was successfully released. The mortality of raptors during migration is high for all birds and for inexperienced juveniles in particular. Black Kites during autumn migration concentrate at Channel of Sicily where the distance between Sicily and Africa is narrower. On the other hand in the same season there isn't a migration of experienced (adults) individuals across the islands of Linosa, Lampedusa and Malta because the way passing through these islands should imply a long and risky sea-crossing.

News from the Strait of Messina

Yesterday it was a great migration day over the Aspromonte mountain and the Strait of Messina. Thousands of raptors have passed just a few hours before the arrival of a huge rain storm. The commonest species in these last days are European Common Buzzards, Marsh and Montagu's Harriers. Moreover in the last days we observed a beautiful flock six Rollers and two Eurasian Dottorels. Here below a picture of our watchtower...

News from the Strait of Messina

The 18th of August there was the peak day of the passage of Black Kites at the Strait of Messina. More than 700 individuals were counted also in large flocks moving over the Aspromonte sky. Moreover a flock of 95 White Storks was detected. We tracked many migrants with our radar collecting data concerning their flight altitude. Here following a portrait of our radar team.

Mid-August report from the Strait of Messina

In the last days we prepared the radar station and we started the fieldwork. Setting radar has taken a long time (as usual...) but since yesterday everything has been working well. Here following pictures of the preliminary activity. The radar station is on the continental side of the Strait and we are using two watchpoints simultaneously. The fieldwork is carried out with our friends of Ornis Italica and there are several people involved from three different European countries.

Invitation for volunteers - Strait of Messina

Next week we are going to start a new season of fieldwork at the Strait of Messina, together with our friends of Ornis Italica: on the 10th of August we will start an extensive fieldwork going on until the end of September. We are monitoring the effect of a new powerline on the migration of birds as well as collecting data on the migratory behaviour of raptors with a radar station and from two different watchpoints. It could be the chance to observe good numbers of raptors (Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Marsh Harriers, Montagu's Harriers, Egyptian Vultures, Lesser Kestrels) moving toward the Strait and also to meet friends and colleagues. Last year more than 20.000 raptors were counted from a single watchpoint. If you would like to join us as a volunteer you are welcome and we will provide food and accomodation. 

Write us an email for further information.

Winter is coming!

Here in Central Italy lot of Black Kites have already left their breeding territories about two weeks in advance. This was probably due by the fact that many pairs have failed the breeding this year. On the other hand other breeding pairs have still chicks in their nest, waiting for fledging.