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Panuccio et al. – Weather and Western Honey Buzzard Migration 653

were considered strong when their speed was respectively. The time of day had a significant
≥ 20 km/h. Hourly weather data at the Marcellinara effect on the visible migration; the passage showed
Isthmus were obtained from the Lamezia Terme an evident peak in the afternoon at 13:20-15:19
meteorological station which are at the web site (Fig. 2; χ2 = 632.94, d.f. = 4, p < 0.01). Along the
www.ilmeteo.it/dati.htm. eastern corridor, the proportion of migrants was
significantly higher during this period of the day
RESULTS (Fig. 3; χ2 = 151.2, d.f. = 8, p < 0.01). During our
study, prevailing winds were mainly perpendicular
In total, 1346 (19%), 4727 (65%), and 1177 to the direction of migration (lateral winds for 304
(16%) Western Honey Buzzards were seen h and other wind conditions for 87 h) with westerly
along the western, central, and eastern corridors, winds (WNW-W-WSW) being more common
than easterly winds (ENE-E-ESE) (232 vs. 72 h,

Tyrrhenian Sea Girifalco
Town

Mount
Contessa

Mount
Covello

Ionian
Sea

M SM
P

Fig. 1. Study area and approximate flyways (arrows) used by adult Western Honey Buzzards in autumn through the Central Mediter­
ranean. SM, Straits of Messina; M, Marettimo; P, Pantelleria.

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