ANUU Migrationists: the ringing activity for the study on pre-nuptial migration conducted by Fein at the Ornithological Observatory of Arosio was completed.
On May 5, 2013, the pre-nuptial ringing activity was completed, the results of which are now dated in time since 1978, when on August 4, 1977 the ringing activity began in a standardized, continuous and constant form at the Observatory. FEIN Arosio ornithology, which carries out other specific activities through which it has reached 184.093 birds ringed. The pre-nuptial ringing activity relating to spring 2013 had a good outcome thanks to a slowed migration and stages compared to the traditional spring migration, very fast and direct, caused by the negative weather conditions that left little space for the sun, which sporadically it peeped through the clouds and appeared in very few days.
During the months of March and April, trans-Saharan species appeared in the capture facility of the FEIN Bird Observatory, giving good observations. This is the case of species such as the Black Balia and the Prispolone, which are species studied in a particular way at the station where their ascent to the nesting shores is analyzed.
The presence of the Blackcap is also excellent and, again at the Arosio Observatory, among the other ringed species, a lesser spotted woodpecker should be noted, an expanding wintering species that is expanding its distribution range so much that ornithologists are evaluating its possible nesting in the foothills; a Kingfisher, especially with aquatic habits, but which very rarely likes to look for new territories where to overwinter and in its short journeys also crosses semi-wooded areas such as that of the Arosian station, and of a Beccafico, a typical elusive trans-Saharan migrant but which in the course of the last seventeen has only been ringed a dozen times.
Other observations include the good presence of the Song Thrush and the Siskin which flew over the Observatory and the neighboring territories between March and the first ten days of April., followed by the passages of other species such as Luì verde, Luì bianco, Luì grosso, Common Redstart, Golden Oriole, Swallow, Swift and among the birds of prey, in addition to the species nesting in the area such as Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard, those with migratory habits were observed such as Black Kite and Marsh Harrier.
By way of information, it should be added that in the last five years of spring migration analysis at the FEIN Ornithological Observatory of Aorsio, 2013 ranks first in terms of species quality (as many as 30) and quantity (273 subjects analyzed). In 2012, 193 subjects were analyzed, equal to 21 different species, in 2011 264 subjects were analyzed, equal to 26 species, in 2010 183 subjects were ringed, equal to 25 species, and in 2009 224 subjects were ringed, equal to 19 species . In these 36 years of activity carried out rigorously by the team of the Ornithological Observatory, through the wintering project now in its eighteenth year of study with the same methodologies, during the analysis of spring migration as the one just concluded, the analysis of breeding species and the study of post-nuptial migration which in a continuous and constant standardized form begins on 4 August and ends on 23 December of each year, data of significant scientific validity have been obtained.
In this context of study that from 20 September to the end of October of each year, since 1995, is conducted in collaboration with the Polish team of Dr. Busse of the University of Gdansk, research on ectoparasites carried by birds are also included in collaboration with the University of Milan, research with the Zooprophylactic Institute of Aosta - CERMAS - on avian influenza, research on the class of age in Song Thrush and Redwing Thrush in place since 1984, research on the migration of Song Thrush since 1940, research on pre- and post-nuptial migration on Prispolone and Black Balia species and, finally, research on post-nuptial migration of Bigiarella . Now the countdown to reach the 185.000th ringed bird has begun and FEIN has set itself the goal of achieving this goal of great ornithological and naturalistic interest thanks to the presence of an existing tree plant since 1700 and visited every year by about two thousand students from all over the Region, as well as by scholars who stop on the spot to complete university studies or wide-ranging targeted research.
To complete these notes, it must be remembered that in connection with the FEIN Ornithological Observatory of Arosio there is also the Massacciuccoli Ornithological Observatory which in 2013 was seriously compromised due to the high water present several times in this area of Tuscany.
8 May 2013
ANUU Migrators