Hunting and Migration: ANUU, report on the migratory step 2014

Hunting and Migration: ANUU Migratoristi provides a report on the migratory step of some species on the Italian territory based on the observations of FEIN.

A report on the migratory pass of Turdidae and other species extrapolated from the observations and ringings made by FEIN in Arosio. First of all the step of Song Thrush in 2014. The Song Thrush at the FEIN Ornithological Observatory (European Foundation Il Nibbio) during the activity of 2014 it was ringed 999 times. With this interesting subdivision: adults = 651; young people = 347; indeterminate = 1. The post-nuptial migration began on 8 September, according to the traditional historical date of the FEIN archive reports, while in December only 3 specimens were ringed, the last of which on 31/12. The number of subjects places the year of capture 2014 among the very first at the top of ringings. As for the spring ascent, which always begins in the first days of March, the earliest date is that of 28/2 (NB the ringing activity takes place regularly also in the first months of January and February). It should be noted that, however, the spring recovery phase for the studies in progress dating back to 1978 affects western Lombardy very marginally and, therefore, the FEIN Observatory is barely touched by this presence. This is also demonstrated by the activity carried out with the aid of bioacoustics, that is the sound recording during the night hours. However, attention to the FEIN Ornithological Observatory is increasingly focused on the particular phase of the pre-nuptial migration, also through the new MonITRing project, implemented since 2015 by ISPRA also on this species.

Sassello Thrush in 2014. We were hoping for more for the Sassello Thrush which recorded the total number of 91 ringed subjects. Very few compared to previous years, always in relation to the annual differences that distinguish the migration of individual species. Also on this specific point, the importance of ringing is a fact by now acquired due to its determination. Of these 91 subjects, 26 were adults, 63 born in the year and 2 indeterminate.

Cesena in 2014. It was thought that the good migratory year of 2014 could also give us the much-desired return, on this side of the Alps, of this bizarre turdid which has been absent for several seasons. But this was not the case because, apart from some movement that was noticed at the end of November, there is nothing remarkable to report: it was accidentally present in some places on the plains and at high altitudes of the Orobic Prealps and, sometimes, in the middle hills. . But nothing more. And to say that there was good nutrition to meet the expectations of the Cesena, but - once again - the weather condition absolutely above the seasonal norm recorded in central Europe up to the last days of the third decade of December, that is from Christmas onwards, made it the dominant element, so the ringing at the Ornithological Observatory they were limited to 12 specimens: still very little. Of the 12 ringed subjects, 3 were adults and 9 were young.

Long-lived blackbirds. The recapturing of a Merlo male, already ringed (n.SB87854), which took place on the morning of January 2015, 30, which wore the ring affixed to the tarsus on October 2011, XNUMX. More than three years later, the Hornbeam of the Observatory are always very hospitable for some species (including, as well, robins, great tit, finches) who like to stay in place. And in this case, well-wishers for the ornithological activity, active there all year round.

Robin in 2014. Once again, the Pettirosso is in a good position according to the ringings that are carried out at the FEIN Ornithological Observatory. In 2014, as many as 1.387 specimens were ringed, demonstrating once again the good presence of the species which enjoys a favorable state of conservation in general in the western Palaearctic. In the final analysis, the presence of the Robin can demonstrate that the territory is favorable to the species and in the game of “give and take” of biodiversity it allows the continuous and constant presence of our winged friend.

Blackcap 2014. The exceptional presence of the Blackcap, which continues in a "top-down" way the trend started in 2012, has allowed to ring 1.747 subjects in 2014. The most important fact that has been noticed was the presence of 1.578 subjects born in the year and only 122 adults, as well as 47 undetermined (males 1.160 - females 578 - undetermined 9). This demonstrates the excellent reproduction of the species, which has been noticed not only in the area surrounding the Arosio Ornithological Observatory, but almost everywhere, as is also reported in the south of France. This observation is also very useful to evaluate, through the marking of the ringing, the considerable quantity of the subjects with their presence along the eternal paths of the sky.

(January 13, 2014)

ANUU Migrators