Sicily 2013 - Raptor Conservation Update

In this moment all the monitored pairs of Bonelli's Eagle in Sicily are in the nest and some chicks were already born. Therefore the surveillance activity is intense in particular in the endangered sites. If you want to enjoy the camps write us an email.

Migration update from the Central Mediterranean

The migration across the Central Mediterranean area has greatly started. In the last week hundreds of Short-toed Snake Eagles were observed in the Ligurian Apennines. On the other hand our friends from BirdLife Malta told us that in the last days dozens of Marsh Harriers, Kestrels and Lesser Kestrels are moving through Malta toward Sicily.

Take a look to the sky maybe you can catch the sight of a migrating raptor flight.

New paper out now!

On the latest issue of Journal of Raptor Research has been published a new Medraptors paper. The migration of the Short-toed Snake Eagle is analyzed  in relation with local weather and topography. The fieldwork was carried out both in Italy (Arenzano) and Greece (Mount Olympus) during spring and autumn migration. The results suggest that temperatures had strongly influenced the number of observed individuals probably because with high temperatures in September a proportion of individuals may fly at higher altitudes and, therefore pass out of sight, in particular at midday and early afternoon. Moreover the results suggest that eagles may be able to compensate for drift effect toward the Aegean Sea.

To read the paper click on the link below:

• Panuccio M., Agostini N., Baghino L. & Bogliani G. 2013.Visible Migration of Short-Toed Snake-Eagles: Interplay of Weather and Topographical Features. Journal of Raptor Research 47(1): 60-68.

Migration of Common Buzzards in the Venetian lowland

Our friend Aldo Tonelli has communicated that in these days there is an intense migratory flow of Common Buzzards along the flat Venetian area. Tens of buzzards were observed passing over Pegolotte about ten km inland of Chioggia town (Adriatic Sea). Raptors were moving toward north east through the lowland and bypassing the hilly area located more inland (Euganei hills).

New Ph.D. dissertation!

Last week Nicolantonio Agostini discussed his Ph.D. thesis at the University of Pavia. The title of his dissertation is: "Migration strategies of raptors as revealed by direct visual observation". 

The research was the result of fieldworks made in Italy, Greece and Turkey and compared the migration behaviour of different species of raptors: the Honey buzzard, the Marsh harrier, the Short-toed Eagle, the Booted Eagle and the Lesser-spotted Eagle. 

Conference: Eagles of Palearctic - Study and Conservation

The next 20-22 September will be held in Russia the International Scientific and Practical Conference "The Eagles of Palearctic: Study and Conservation ". The aim of the Conference is to discuss the current situation, negative factors and methods of study and protection of eagles, as well as to propose a strategy of protecting the most endangered of them.

The Conference will consist of several plenary sessions with presentations on key aspects of the study and conservation of eagles in Eurasia, a poster session, workshops on current issues in the conservation of species. In particular, as part of the conference there will be a meeting on the development of national strategies for the conservation of the Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) and a meeting on a problem "Birds and Power Lines". At the end of the Conference a resolution will be adopted and recommendations for further programs for the study and conservation of eagles and their populations will be developed.

During the Conference the participants will have a chance to go on organized trips to museums and memorial sites of Yelabuga, as well as visit surroundings interesting from an ornithological point of view: the territory of the "Nizhnyaya Kama" National Park, the Kama river banks, the Nizhnekamsk Reservoir etc. 

After the Conference, on September 23, the Russian Raptor Research and Conservation Network (RRRCN) is holding a satellite event in the NP "Nizhnyaya Kama" – workshops on attracting birds into artificial nests and on various methods of tagging and tracking of raptors with participation of leading experts. Details will be announced.

For further information click on the logo below: 

Conservation of birds of prey in Sicily

Medraptors would like to support an important project for the protection of two rare species of Mediterranean raptors. The project is promoted by several NGO and Foundations active in southern Italy (CABS, EBN Italy, FIR, LIPU, MAN, WWF). In particular the two endangered species are: the Bonelli's Eagle and the Lanner Falcon. The main threats for these raptors in Sicily are linked to the illegal trafficking of eggs and chicks from nest. The project is developped to prevent this detrimental activity. In 2012, 75 volunteers have assisted to the fledging of 32 young eagles!

To improve the project is requested the help of everybody. If you want to partecipate or to support the conservation programme you can write us or to the coordinator of the project Giovanni La Grua (lagruagio[at]alice.it). To read more about it, click on the link below:

Raptor conservation in Sicily

On the picture a beautiful young Bonelli's Eagle born in a monitored nest in 2012.