Analysis of the Spatial Migration Patterns of Adult Honey Buzzards (<i>Pernis apivorus</i>) During Spring and Autumn in the Central Mediterranean

Agostini, Nicolantonio; Panuccio, Michele

doi:10.2478/v10050-008-0018-x

Cited by 18 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(7 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is possible that Breginjski Stol is a bottleneck only in spring. Autumn numbers are much lower, which might reflect a more dispersed autumn migration (Agostini & Panuccio 2005), but also different migration routes in autumn as known for Honey Buzzard in Israel (Bruderer et al 1994).…”

Section: (5) Night Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Census of migrating raptors at Breginjski Stol (NW Slovenia) - the first confirmed bottleneck site in Slovenia

Denac¹

2010

Acrocephalus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Census of migrating raptors at Breginjski Stol (NW Slovenia) - the first confirmed bottleneck site in Slovenia From 4 to 31 May 2010, raptor migration was monitored daily between 9.00 and 17.00 hrs CET at Breginjski Stol (NW Slovenia). In all, 2,385 raptor passes were counted, belonging to at least 17 species that were divided into resident and migratory birds. Residents (n = 875 passes) foraged, bred or daily migrated over the area. Among them, Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus was the most frequent species (n = 575 passes) with the largest observed group of 35 individuals on 26 May. In the morning, Griffon Vultures were flying from west to east in search of food, whereas in the afternoon they were returning in the opposite direction to their colony in Forgaria nel Friuli (Italy). Their numbers increased after 15 May, when Croatian Griffons joined those from Italy. Altogether, 1,510 individuals of migratory raptors were counted, belonging to at least nine species. Among them, Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus was the most common (1,368 ind., 90.6% of migratory raptors). The migration peak was reached on 14 May, with 552 individuals. Most raptors were seen migrating solitarily or in small flocks (2-4 ind.), whereas on five days (4, 7, 11, 13, 14 May) over 20% of all observed flocks were either medium-sized (5-15 ind.) or large (> 15 ind.). Raptors mostly migrated between 9.00 and 13.00 hrs. Taking into consideration several factors - short observation period and limited number of observation hours per day, overlooked raptors due to human- and topography-related causes, movements of observers between observation points, extremely bad weather and night migration of raptors - we estimate that the actual number of migratory raptors that passed Breginjski Stol in spring 2010 was 3,060-4,660 individuals. Thus, Breginjski Stol is the first confirmed bottleneck site of European importance for migratory raptors in Slovenia, as defined by BirdLife International IBA criterion B1iv, and a natural continuation of migratory pathways from northern Italy.

show abstract

Section: (5) Night Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Census of migrating raptors at Breginjski Stol (NW Slovenia) - the first confirmed bottleneck site in Slovenia

Denac¹

2010

Acrocephalus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The proportion of juveniles was lower among Honey Buzzards 3830 (94.7%) adults and 215 (5.3%) juveniles esti- Agostini et al 1999. On the contrary, juveniles migrating later than adults, after the second week of September, cross the central Mediterranean on a broader front undertaking long powered flights over water between the Italian Peninsula and Tunisia (part of them via western Sicily) and southern Sicily and Libya via Malta, apparently moving along axis genetically defined (Agostini and Logozzo 1995, Agostini et al 1999, Agostini et al 2004. The thousands of Honey Buzzards recorded in this study do not agree with the conclusion that mostly adults belonging to the population breeding in central Italy cross the central Mediterranean during autumn migration Logozzo 1995, 1997).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, in this area observations were made over the island of Marettimo located about 30 km off western Sicily and 130 km NE of the Cap Bon peninsula. There, thousands of raptors are recorded each season, nearly all between the end of August and the first half of September Agostini et al 2004). However, sporadic observations made over the island of Pantelleria, located about 110 km south of Marettimo (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crossing the sea en route to Africa: autumn migration of some Accipitriformes over two Central Mediterranean islands

Agostini

Premuda²,

Mellone³

et al. 2004

Ring

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Agostini N., Premuda G., Mellone U., Panuccio M., Logozzo D., Bassi E., Cocchi L. 2004. Crossing the sea en route to Africa: autumn migration of some Accipitriformes over two Central Mediterranean islands. Ring 26, 2: 71-78. Observations were made on the autumn migration of Accipitriformes over the islands of Marettimo and Pantelleria, located between western Sicily and Tunisia (Central Mediterranean). A total of 7451 raptors was counted between 24 August and 12 September 2003, mostly adult Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus 4045, and Black Kites Milvus migrans 2489. Mixed-age flocks were regularly reported for the Black Kite (1956 adults and 533 juveniles estimated) confirming information transmission concerning orientation behaviour in this species. Although in the Honey Buzzard juveniles tend to migrate later than adults, crossing the Mediterranean on a broad front mostly after mid-September, we observed some mixed-age flocks, estimating the passage of 3830 adults and 215 juveniles. In particular, over Pantelleria we recorded in seven cases juveniles in flocks of adults heading towards WNW, presumably learning (similarly to juvenile Black Kites) the shortest route over water to reach Africa from this site. A total of 72 Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus 62 adults, 6 juveniles and 4 sub-adults was counted over Marettimo confirming that their greatest concentration during autumn migration through Italy occurs at this island. In this species, all juveniles were seen migrating in flocks of adults. Finally, the passage of hundreds of Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus was reported, mostly over Pantelleria. Among adult harriers, it was possible to estimate the passage of birds belonging to different sex classes; unlike in the previous studies made in central, southern continental Italy and Malta during autumn migration, adult females outnumbered adult males (372 vs 298 individuals). Finally, considering the huge number of Accipitriformes observed, Pantelleria, so as Marettimo, should be enclosed among Important Bird Areas for the autumn migration of raptors in the Mediterranean basin.

show abstract

“…Moreover, a larger number of adults use the Central Mediterranean flyway during spring compared to the autumn migration period (ca. 25,000 vs 5000; Agostini & Panuccio 2005). Recent preliminary observations made over Antikythira (southern Greece), a small island along the Central-Eastern Mediterranean flyway, reported the passage of European Honey Buzzards during both spring and autumn migration (Kominos unpublished data).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In addition, they do not use thermals, which precede frontal systems to cross the Mediterranean (Thake 1977;Agostini et al 2000Agostini et al , 2005aAgostini et al ,b, 2007. However, unlike at the Strait of Gibraltar or the Bosphorus, in the Central Mediterranean region adult European Honey Buzzards undertake long sea crossings sometimes flying hundreds of kilometres over water and showing curvilinear flyways using small islands to interrupt non-stop powered flights (Agostini & Panuccio 2005). Due to the scarcity of thermals, they tend to fly very low when migrating over these bodies of open water (Agostini et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loop migration of adult European Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorusLinnaeus, 1758) through the Central-Eastern Mediterranean

Agostini¹,

Lucia²,

Mellone³

et al. 2012

Italian Journal of Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study provides the first systematic survey of spring and autumn migration of adult European Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus) along the Central-Eastern Mediterranean flyway. Observations were done in 2007 and 2008 over the island of Antikythira (southern Greece), located 33 km NW of Crete. A total of 135 birds were counted during spring, 101 in 2007 and 34 in 2008. During post-reproductive movements, the passage of 2479 individuals was reported, 1131 in 2007 and 1348 in 2008.During both years an evident peak during the last ten-days of August occurred. These results clearly show differential spring and autumn migration of adult European Honey Buzzards through this region. Historical data concerning prevailing winds were used to reconstruct general wind patterns in the Central-Eastern Mediterranean region. It showed north-northwesterly winds between southern Greece and Libya during both spring and autumn, but very weak (<10 km/h) during the first period. We discuss two hypotheses to explain why the spring visible migration was so scarce: 1) a narrow migratory loop, with the European Honey Buzzards using a direct path between Libya and Peloponnesus during spring, bypassing Antikythira, and 2) a loop migration on a greater scale, involving a detour via the Bosphorus/Dardanelles' Strait and/or the Central Mediterranean, that would allow the European Honey Buzzards to minimise the water crossing but increasing the overall migration distance. In the light of previous studies on this species, the first hypothesis seems to be much more reliable than the second one.

show abstract

Analysis of the Spatial Migration Patterns of Adult Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus) During Spring and Autumn in the Central Mediterranean

Abstract: Agostini N., Panuccio M. Analysis of the spatial migration patterns of adult Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus) during spring and autumn in the Central Mediterranean. Ring 27, 2: 215-220.

Cited by 18 publications

References 6 publications

Census of migrating raptors at Breginjski Stol (NW Slovenia) - the first confirmed bottleneck site in Slovenia

Census of migrating raptors at Breginjski Stol (NW Slovenia) - the first confirmed bottleneck site in Slovenia

Crossing the sea en route to Africa: autumn migration of some Accipitriformes over two Central Mediterranean islands

Loop migration of adult European Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorusLinnaeus, 1758) through the Central-Eastern Mediterranean

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About