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Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia
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This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 0035-6875 - ISSN (Online) 2385-0833
Published by PAGEPress

[52 journals]

New data on the expansion of the Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus
in Sicily. A consideration of citizen science
- Authors: Salvatore Surdo, Camillo Antonino Cusimano, Rocco Lo Duca
  Abstract: In this work, we collected records of Eurasian Thick-knee observations in Sicily by using scientific literature, citizen science programs, and social networks as data sources. The aims of this work is creating a complete and up-to-date dataset, which also includes the authors’ targeted research in the field. As compared with records previously reported in literature, the data collected here, which cover the last fifteen years, show a clear expansion trend for the Eurasian Thick-knee in Sicily. About one third of these new records come from Facebook groups dedicated to biodiversity, thus underlining the usefulness of unconventional sources to gather data on species with poorly known distributions. [Article in Italian]
  PubDate: 2023-07-04
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.671
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
Spontaneous renaturalization of open ecosystems in the hills of Brescia
seen through the bird community
- Authors: Rocco Leo, Gabriele Romanenghi, Diego Franchini, Marco Gobbini
  Abstract: The sun-exposed open areas of the Brescia hills overlooking the Po Valley (Avanalpica region) were created by man starting from the 11th century. After the Second World War, following agro-pastoral abandonment, these areas have significantly shrunk. The evolution underway is towards the deciduous forest although in some areas the strong presence of quarries is blocking the vegetational succession or delaying it. Local birds are now largely associated with woodland coenosis and more scarcely with open areas, shrublands and wood edges. Seven open areas species have become extinct over the past 30 years: Woodchat Shrike, Barred Warbler, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Tawny Pipit, Corn Bunting and Ortolan Bunting. Others, like Red-backed Shrike, Common Whitethroat, Cirl Bunting and Wood Lark have declined. Only the generalist Sardinian Warbler and Blue Rock-Thrush, typical of rocky areas with grassy spaces, are still relatively widespread although slightly decreasing. The Cirl Bunting, a species linked to traditional vineyards and orchards, is not expanding in the new intensively cultivated lands. The Eastern Subalpine Warbler is on the rise even though, due to its very low presence and lack of specific surveys, it may not have been detected in the past. The factors determining the presence of these species, i.e. traditional crops, flat open areas, soils with low grass and often with outcropping and/or rocky substrate, are in sharp decline. We can state that this bird community is negatively influenced by the percentage of tree cover and positively influenced by the presence of quarries which, however, represent an ephemeral and strongly impacting environment. In the absence of fires and/or natural disasters as well as human interventions, which are not likely to occur due to their poor economic sustainability, the prognosis for these birds is to be considered poor and a reduction in both bird and general biodiversity is to be expected.
  PubDate: 2023-07-04
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.667
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
First nesting of Goosander (Mergus merganser) in the province of
Cuneo (Piedmont)
- Authors: Pier Luigi Beraudo
  Abstract: During 2022, at least three females were observed entering rock cavities overhanging streams or woods. At least one female has been observed accompanying five flightless chicks. [Article in Italian]
  PubDate: 2023-07-04
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.643
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
Notes on a new breeding site for the endangered Kentish Plover (Charadrius
alexandrinus) in a touristic beach of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
- Authors: Giosué Cuccurullo, Elena Zwirner
  Abstract: We describe a new breeding site for the endangered Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), the first recorded in recent years along the coastline of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (NE Italy), and report the impact of the first protective measures implemented at this site. Throughout the breeding season, we recorded a total of 8 nests, 10 eggs, and 6 fledglings. These results show that simple measures have a highly positive effect on nesting attempts and on the overall reproductive success, and they highlight the possible coexistence of conservation measures and tourism.
  PubDate: 2023-07-03
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.663
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
Merlin Falco columbarius preys and feeds offshore
- Authors: Fulvio Fraticelli, Federica Franco, Simone Martinelli, Sergio Muratore, Nicola Larroux, Alessandro Pavesi
  Abstract: This short report describes two cases of predation carried out by Merlin Falco columbarius in open sea, highlighting the ability of this species to feed during active migration.
  PubDate: 2023-06-20
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.664
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
A new successful breeding site of Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
along the northern Adriatic coastline
- Authors: Stefano Sponza, Paolo Salvador
  Abstract: The Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola has a large and fragmented breeding distribution in the Palearctic. In Italy it is an uncommon migrant breeder and the breeding sites are very patchily distributed and irregularly used, with most frequent occurrences in the N Adriatic, N Apulia, Campania, Sardinia and Sicily. We report a new breeding site for the species along the northern Adriatic coastline in the Marano and Grado Lagoon (Friuli Venezia Giulia region, NE Italy), which represents the first breeding evidence for the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
  PubDate: 2023-06-20
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.648
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
Predation attempts on Hoopoe Upupa epops nests in a rural
Mediterranean area of central Italy
- Authors: Matteo Annessi, Alessandro Montemaggiori
  Abstract: Seventeen predation attempts on four Hoopoe Upupa epops nests in an heterogenous agricultural Mediterranean area of central Italy were recorded during breeding seasons 2020-21. Camera traps identified 7 different predators’ species, mainly Western whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus and Black rat Rattus rattus. Uropygial secretions and hissing calls from chicks and incubating female inside the breeding cavity always saved the clutches, while no active defense was performed by parents if outside the nest.
  PubDate: 2023-06-06
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.658
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
Ecology and distribution of the European Roller Coracias garrulus in a
recently recolonized area of Northern Italy
- Authors: Alessandro Ghiggi
  Abstract: This study reports the first data on the ecology and distribution patterns of a population of Eurasian Roller Coracias garrulus breeding in the province of Alessandria in northwestern Italy. The research was conducted between 2017 and 2021. 13 pairs were found, 12 of which were confirmed to be breeding. The species primarily chose to nest in natural cavities in White poplar Populus alba, with nesting observed to a lesser extent in Black poplar Populus nigra, Turkey Oak Quercus cerris and in one case sandy river banks. The home range of each pair is mostly within pluriannual stable meadows and arable crops; on average it extends over 0,92 km2 with values that seems to oscillate according to the degree of fragmentation and isolation of patches of stable meadows: this can be explained by the lower availability of arthropods (consisting mostly of Orthoptera) found in mosaics of alternating meadows interspersed with annual crops. In such conditions, a low density of pairs was observed, along with an increase in territorial boundaries and greater distance between the nests. In the sectors characterised by large, multi-annual stable meadows, with more diverse and abundant entomofauna, supporting a higher number of breeding pairs, a significant contraction of home ranges is observed, with an increased concentration of nesting sites, and higher intraspecific tolerance. Between 2019 and 2021 a total of 17 artificial nest boxes were installed, 3 of which have been successfully occupied. Given the continuous anthropogenic transformation these territories are regularly facing, sometimes subtracting potential nesting or feeding sites due to crop rotation, coppicing, ex-novo construction of ground solar panel systems on agricultural land, etc., in order to protect and conserve this population of European Roller, it is desirable to put in place a greater number of artificial nest structures together with monitoring aimed at protecting the biodiversity of the territory.
  PubDate: 2023-06-06
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2023.633
  Issue No: Vol. 93, No. 1 (2023)
Steady turnover in a bird community in a periurban landscape in Northern
Italy: a look at the change in species richness over time
- Authors: Fabio Saporetti
  Pages: 39 - 48
  Abstract: From November 2017 until February 2022, with a partial interruption during 2020 linked to the COVID 19 pandemic, the bird community was monitored in a 30 hectares periurban plot in north-western Lombardy, in the province of Varese. The study area consists of a mosaic of farmland/ urban habitat (Luino and Germignaga municipalities) with scattered strips of woodland on the east side of Lake Maggiore. The farmland is mainly cultivated ryegrass or maize and permanent grassland. The turnover and phenology of the avifauna was regularly monitored. The year was divided up 4 seasons: winter, spring migration, breeding season and autumn migration. Each season was further divided into 10-day periods, giving a total of 37 ten-day periods over the whole year. For each ten-day period, there was a minimum of 4 surveys, alternating a 500m transect over 30 minutes with a single point count for 30 minutes. A total of 134 species were observed. The trend in species richness follows a sinusoidal curve relating to the migration periods. The area of farmland, while not having any regularly breeding species, supported 65 foraging species, with permanent grassland being more species rich than either maize or ryegrass. The Sorensen Similarity Index, based on incidence matrices, ranged from the lowest value of 0.6480 (during the winter of 2018/19 to spring migration in 2019) to the highest value of 0.8572 (from spring migration 2019 to the breeding period in 2019). Most of the nesting species are synanthropic, occupying the urban areas of this plot, including a colony of northern house martins.
  PubDate: 2022-12-15
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2022.631
  Issue No: Vol. 92, No. 2 (2022)
First documented case of Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris nest parasitism by
common cuckoo Cuculus canorus in Spanish steppes
- Authors: Adrián Barrero, Julia Gómez-Catasús, Daniel Bustillo-de la Rosa, Juan Traba, Julia Zurdo, Margarita Reverter
  Pages: 49 - 52
  Abstract: Interspecific brood or nest parasitism is a relatively common breeding behavior in birds. Through this reproductive tactic, brood-parasites avoid the costs associated with raising and maintaining chicks by laying their eggs in the nests of the host species in which they are specialized. The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) follows this brood parasite strategy. Female cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, mimicking egg shape, size, and color of the host species. In this paper we report the first documented case of parasitism of tawny pipit nests by the common cuckoo in Spanish steppe habitats, where no record of parasitism on this species has been reported to date.
  PubDate: 2022-12-19
  DOI: 10.4081/rio.2022.634
  Issue No: Vol. 92, No. 2 (2022)