The woodcocks involved
After the departures of Barone and Peverella, respectively from Pantelleria and Sardinia, which we reported in previous statement, the Perla del Conero woodcocks, marked in the Marche region, and three other woodcocks from Sicily began their movements, two more from Pantelleria and one from Bosco della Ficuzza, in the province of Palermo. These are the subjects named Pantesca, Pantelleria 2 and Sicilia 2. The Perla del Conero woodcock is now found in the Czech Republic, while Pantesca has reached Serbia. The other two are in Italy, in Basilicata and Campania respectively. Furthermore, the woodcock UNCZA, marked in the Mandria Park in the province of Turin, and Chiara, marked in Molise, have begun to move. These two individuals are found today respectively in Germany on the border with Austria and in Serbia, very close to Bulgaria.
Wintering places
As mentioned above, two subjects marked in the previous 2022-23 season have sent signals of returning to their wintering places in Italy: these are the Mongianella woodcock, now back in Calabria, and Salento 2, marked in the province of Lecce in 2022, returned in the wintering area and today also in Serbia. Other individuals marked between last December and January are still in their wintering places.
Migratory phenology
The Scolopax Overland project, carried out in collaboration between Federcaccia, Amici di Scolopax and the University of Milan, adds another good sample of tracked individuals for 2024, which will provide precise indications on the reproductive sites reached and the migratory phenology. At the moment, two confirmations have been obtained: no departure for migration in January, and fidelity to the wintering places for two subjects from the previous season. Lastly, the transmitters prove to be well tolerated, as demonstrated by the repeated trips and the length of the migration routes completed (source: FIDC).