Volume 39 - N. 1
June 2015

Avocetta
Volume 39 - N. 1



  1. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus population monitoring at the Apuane Alps migration watch-site (Tuscany)

    Premuda G., Belosi A., Viviani F., Franchini M.

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    39 84

    The aim of this study is the monitoring of the Short-toed Eagle population breeding in the Italian Peninsula, through visual
    counts performed at the Apuane Alps raptor migration watch-site. The “circuitous migration” performed by the species makes it possible to know the source and destination of the migrating eagles. Total migration counts were collected at the site over a six-year period 2008-2013 in March (max 1845, average 1472) and September (max 1934, average 1459). The total spring and autumn counts are compared to validate the reliability of the observations. Data about Short-toed Eagle population trends are analyzed over a ten-year spring sample period 2004-2013, showing the median date (average on 16 March and 21 September) and the peak passage (on 14 March and 21 September). Two samples of 12-day peak periods in spring and autumn over nine years (2005-2013) are compared to validate the trends and the reliability of the counts. Trends of the mean hourly rate over a nine-year period (2005-2013) in spring and autumn are also analysed. Our results allow us to estimate the population size of Short-toed Eagles breeding in Central-Southern Italy (514-872 pairs) and to provide an updated estimate of the entire Italian population (626-1025 pairs). Our data show that Short-toed Eagle population trends have been positive over the last ten years (+102.5%, +10.25% yearly average) and we recommend that the population trend status of the species in Italy be upgraded to “Increasing”.

  2. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus population increase in Italy: hypothesis of root causes

    Premuda G., Belosi A.

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    45 136

    This review discusses a hypothesis about the root causes of the increasing trend of the Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
    population in Italy, such as: the high productivity rate of the Italian population, the withdrawal of farming and the agricultural landscapes exploited as hunting areas for the species, the increasing maturity of woods exploited as new nesting sites, and the immigration from other areas due to the expansion of the species. In addition, this paper provides an evaluation of the potential population increase yearly rate (PPIYR = 9.5%) in Italy.

  3. Breeding bird community of the Montagne della Duchessa (Latium, central Italy)

    Brunelli M., Cento M., De Santis E., Savo E., Sorace A.

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    35 80

    During 2014 spring we studied the breeding bird community of ‘Montagne della Duchessa’ Regional Nature Reserve (Latium,
    Italy). In the study area (5870 ha; altitude range: 800-2239 m a.s.l.) we performed 127 point counts (10 min long) among four macro-habitat types (arable crop, oak wood, beech wood, bushes and alpine meadow) distributed proportionally to their respective area. We found 88 breeding species (79 detected during point counts). Most abundant species were: Erithacus rubecula, Sylvia atricapilla and Corvus cornix. Most widespread species were Erithacus rubecula, Fringilla coelebs, Sylvia atricapilla, Turdus merula, Phylloscopus collybita and Cyanistes caeruleus. In arable crops we detected a total of 54 species (Passer italiae, Sturnus vulgaris, Corvus cornix and Passer montanus the most abundant); in oak woods 34 species (Erithacus rubecula, Turdus merula, Cyanistes caeruleus, Sylvia atricapilla, Parus major, Phylloscopus collybita, Poecile palustris and Fringilla coelebs the most abundant); in beech woods 37 species (Erithacus rubecula, Fringilla coelebs, Sylvia atricapilla, Poecile palustris, Cyanistes caeruleus, Sitta europaea and Phylloscopus collybita the most abundant); in bushes and alpine meadows 33 species (Oenanthe oenanthe, Anthus spinoletta, Alauda arvensis, Carduelis cannabina and Anthus campestris the most abundant). In bushes and alpine meadows Richness, Abundance and Diversity were lowest. The collected data showed the important role of this Protected Area for some species of conservation concern.

  4. Parental care and chick growth rate in the Mediterranean Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis

    Albores-Barajas Y.V., Massa B., Tagliavia M., Soldatini C.

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    36 96

    Few studies on parental care in monomorphic seabirds are available, whether or not differences between sexes are reported.
    We studied the Mediterranean subspecies of Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis from 2007 through 2012 to determine the nature of parental care for each sex and to evaluate the birds’ breeding behaviour. We found that parents’ investment is equally divided during incubation and first days after hatching. When chicks grow older females invest more time in taking care of their offspring. The variability in parents effort observed in the five years lead us to conclude that parental care changes from year to year is an adaptation to variability in environmental conditions and food availability balancing long lived species vulnerability.

  5. Columns - Italian Ornithological Commission (Italian Rarities Committee) - Report 26

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    135 239

    Commissione Ornitologica Italiana (COI) – Report 26
    Italian Ornithological Commission (Italian Rarities Committee) – Report 26. The following records were accepted for Italy
    (Cat. AERC: A – COI List 1A, 1B): Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris (Trentino 2013; 7th record); Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis (Sicily 2009; 2nd record); Brown Booby Sula leucogaster (Liguria 2014; 3rd record); Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes (two records: Sicily 2012; 7th – 8th records); Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis (three records: Sicily 2012-2012-2013; 22nd-24th records); Sooty Falcon Falco concolor (Sicily 2012; 2nd record); Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni (two records: Sicily 2013, Lombardy 2014; 8th-9th records); Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius (Apulia 1908; first record for Italy); Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus (Sicily 2012; 4th record); Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii (Lombardy 2013; 2nd record); Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes (Sicily 2013; 10th record); Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor (Apulia 1889; 5th record); Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini (Lombardy 2013; 8th record); Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus (Apulia 2012; first record for Italy); Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixan (Piedmont 2013; 2nd record); Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura (Sicily 2012; 3rd record); Moussier’s Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri (Sardinia 2012; 9th record); White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga (two records: Latium 2013, Sicily 2013; 2nd-3rd records); Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum (Latium 2012; 5th record); Western Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais opaca (Sicily 2013; 6th record); Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida (two records: Latium 2014, Sicily 2014; 9th-10th records; an additional twenty or so records of Olivaceous Warbler H. pallida/opaca predate the split and have not been assigned to species); Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum (Latium 2014; 2nd record); Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis (Lombardy 2012; 3rd record); Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides (Latium 2012; first record for Italy); Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus (Apulia 2013; 8th record); Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis (Liguria 2013; 3rd record); Atlas Pied Flycatcher Ficedula speculigera (Latium 2012; first record for Italy, confirmed by genetic data); Isabelline Shrike Lanius [isabellinus] isabellinus (Sicily 2012; 10th record for the L. isabellinus group; a more detailed review is in progress); Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius [sp.] pallidirostris (Marche 2013; 3rd record); Desert Grey Shrike Lanius [sp.] elegans (Sicily 2014; 7th record). The following record was accepted at the generic level only (COI List 1C): Pin-tailed/Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago stenura/megala (Sicily 2011). The following records were not accepted due to insufficient documentation (COI List 5): Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (Latium 2011); White-rumped Swift Apus caffer (Liguria 2013); Western Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais opaca (Tuscany 2013); Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis (Apulia 2014).

  6. Columns - Obiturary

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    51 75

    Alan R. Johnson (1941-2014)

  7. Columns - Book Reviews

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    28 69
  8. Columns - Italian review of Doctoral theses in Ornithology

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    47 647

    Italian review of Doctoral theses in Ornithology