Migration Strategies of Birds of Prey in Western Palearctic

Michele Panuccio obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Ecology at the University of Pavia. He is a co-founder member of the Mediterranean Raptor Migration Network (MEDRAPTORS), a non-profit association working to improve research and protection of birds of prey in the Western Palearctic. He has carried out research on migratory strategies of diurnal birds of prey, from 1998 using different methodologies: direct visual observations, ringing recoveries, radar and GPS tracking. He was also involved in research on breeding and wintering ecology. In recent years he made his research activity both as post-doctoral researcher at the University of Pavia and as research coordinator of MEDRAPTORS. While working on this book and conducting a research on waterbird movements in ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), he passed away in 2019, after having fought for a long time against a hard illness. Ugo Mellone is also a co-founder of MEDRAPTORS; he has carried out research on raptor migration from 2003. In 2013, he got his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Alicante, Spain, with a thesis focused on movement ecology on migrating raptors studied by means of satellite telemetry. He developed research stays also in the Centre for Animal Movement Research (Lund, Sweden), Ecotono (Bariloche, Argentina), and Estación Biológica de Doñana (Seville, Spain). Besides his role in the MEDRAPTORS project, he also freelances as a photo journalist. Aimed at raising awareness on conservation issues and endangered species, he produces stories that are disseminated through magazines, books and exhibitions. Nicolantonio Agostini obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Ecology at the University of Pavia. Between 1986 and 1989 he was member of the Scientific Coordination of the Raptor Rescue Centre in Parma, managed by LIPU-Birdlife Italy. In this period he studied predatory and social behaviour of both captive wild diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey. Co-founder member of MEDRAPTORS, since 1989 he has been studying migration of diurnal birds of prey by direct visual observation at several watchsites in Italy, Tunisia, Malta, Greece, Turkey and Georgia. In recent years he has been involved in studies carried out by radar and GPS tracking such as in ecology research of birds of prey at wintering sites. Between 1984 and 1996 he was active in protectionist actions against poaching of diurnal birds of prey at the Strait of Messina together with LIPU-Birdlife Italy.

Foreword. Raptors as models to study animal migrations. Osprey Pandion haliaetus. Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus. Western honey buzzard Pernis apivorus. Crested honey buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus. Eurasian griffon vulture Gyps fulvus. Short-toed snake eagle Circaetus gallicus. Lesser spotted eagle Clanga pomarina. Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga. Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus. Steppe eagle Aquila nipalensis. Eastern imperial eagle Aquila heliaca. Levant sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes. Eurasian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. Western marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus. Hen harrier Circus cyaneus. Pallid harrier Circus macrourus. Montagu’s harrier Circus pygargus. Red kite Milvus. Red kite Milvus. Black kite Milvus migrans. Rough-legged buzzard Buteo lagopus. Long-legged buzzard Buteo rufinus. Eurasian buzzard Buteo. Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni. Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus. Amur falcon Falco amurensis. Eleonora’s falcon Falco eleonorae. Sooty falcon Falco concolor. Merlin Falco columbarius. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo. Saker falcon Falco cherrug. PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus. References.