Influence of Wind and Geography on Orientation Behavior of Adult Honey Buzzards<i>Pernis apivorus</i>During Migration Over Water

Agostini, Nicolantonio; Premuda, Guido; Mellone, Ugo; Panuccio, Michele; Logozzo, Daniela; Bassi, Ernesto; Cocchi, Leonardo

doi:10.3161/068.040.0101

Cited by 15 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…This generates a strong selective pressure for the selection of optimal wind conditions for departure and travelling, which are particularly important when birds have to face large ecological barriers (Delingat et al 2008;Navedo et al 2010;Saino et al 2010), inhospitable environments such as deserts, seas and mountain ranges, where the opportunities to fulfil energy requirements are low or absent and environmental factors could be extremely severe, increasing mortality risks (Kerlinger 1989;Newton 2008;Strandberg et al 2009;López-López et al 2010). For example, it has been shown that Western honey buzzards (Pernis apivorus) change their pathways when crossing the Mediterranean sea according to prevailing winds (Agostini et al 2005;, and that the departure of Bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica) from Alaska when crossing the Pacific ocean in a 11,000 km non-stop flight was associated with tailwinds (Gill et al 2009). Nevertheless, data on the impact of harsh weather conditions on migration routes are scarce.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Weather conditions promote route flexibility during open ocean crossing in a long-distance migratory raptor

et al. 2010

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Weather conditions are paramount in shaping birds' migratory routes, promoting the evolution of behavioural plasticity and allowing for adaptive decisions on when to depart or stop during migration. Here, we describe and analyze the influence of weather conditions in shaping the sea-crossing stage of the pre-breeding journey made by a long-distance migratory bird, the Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae), tracked by satellite telemetry from the wintering grounds in the Southern Hemisphere to the breeding sites in the Northern Hemisphere. As far as we know, the data presented here are the first report of repeated oceanic journeys of the same individuals in consecutive years. Our results show inter-annual variability in the routes followed by Eleonora's falcons when crossing the Strait of Mozambique, between Madagascar and eastern continental Africa. Interestingly, our observations illustrate that individuals show high behavioural plasticity and are able to change their migration route from one year to another in response to weather conditions, thus minimising the risk of long ocean crossing by selecting winds blowing towards Africa for departure and changing the routes to avoid low pressure areas en route. Our results suggest that weather conditions can really act as obstacles during migration, and thus, besides ecological barriers, the migratory behaviour of birds could also be shaped by "meteorological barriers". We briefly discuss orientation mechanisms used for navigation. Since environmental conditions during migration could cause carry-over effects, we consider that forecasting how global changes of weather patterns will shape the behaviour of migratory birds is of the utmost importance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Weather conditions promote route flexibility during open ocean crossing in a long-distance migratory raptor

et al. 2010

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“…They often migrate in flocks, which facilitates the finding of thermals (Kerlinger 1989, Agostini et al 1994, Agostini et al 2005a. The largest flock observed on the island of Marettimo (west of Sicily) numbered 147 individuals (Agostini et al 2005a), on Pantelleria Island (SW of Sicily) 757 individuals and on Panarea Island (north of Sicily) 227 individuals (Agostini et al 2005b). At Breginjski Stol, the largest flock (observed on 14 May) consisted of 63 individuals.…”

Section: Migratory Raptorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adult Honey Buzzards on autumn migration mainly fly westwards across France and Spain and cross the Mediterranean at Gibraltar, whereas juveniles cross the Mediterranean at its central part (Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica; Hake et al 2003, http://born2bwild.nhmwien.ac.at/BORN_wespenbussard.html#zug, 6 Dec 2010). They often migrate in flocks, which facilitates the finding of thermals (Kerlinger 1989, Agostini et al 1994, Agostini et al 2005a. The largest flock observed on the island of Marettimo (west of Sicily) numbered 147 individuals (Agostini et al 2005a), on Pantelleria Island (SW of Sicily) 757 individuals and on Panarea Island (north of Sicily) 227 individuals (Agostini et al 2005b).…”

Section: Migratory Raptorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Denac¹

2010

Acrocephalus

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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.

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“…In this period, adult Honey Buzzards follow the Italian mainland and northern Sicily concentrating at the Strait of Messina; they reach Africa through the Channel of Sicily, at least part of them via Marettimo and Pantelleria islands, like during spring migration (Fig. 1, Agostini and Logozzo 1997, Agostini et al 2000, Agostini et al 2004b, 2005b. It is interesting to note that adult Honey Buzzards passing via Pantelleria choose the shortest flyway over water to reach Africa, changing their orientation behaviour leaving the island heading WNW.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…occurs at the same time in the same area. Furthermore, during the crossing of the Channel of Sicily, how can inexperienced birds know the shortest flyway over water between Pantelleria and the Cap Bon Peninsula (Agostini et al 2005b, Fig. 1 (Agostini pers.…”

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confidence: 99%

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

Agostini¹,

Panuccio

2005

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Influence of Wind and Geography on Orientation Behavior of Adult Honey BuzzardsPernis apivorusDuring Migration Over Water

Cited by 15 publications

References 5 publications

Weather conditions promote route flexibility during open ocean crossing in a long-distance migratory raptor

Weather conditions promote route flexibility during open ocean crossing in a long-distance migratory raptor

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

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

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