Page 85 - Panuccio2012
P. 85
Short paper
Evidence for age-dependent
migration strategies in
the Short-toed Eagle
The Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus is a Since 2000, however, a regular passage of
summer visitor to central Italy, with a Short-toed Eagles has been noted each autumn
breeding population of at least 350 pairs moving south along the Central Mediterranean
(Baghino et al. 2009). Most pairs are concen- flyway. Many thousands of raptors follow this
trated along the Tyrrhenian coast flyway used route, mostly Honey-buzzards Pernis apivorus,
by birds returning from African wintering Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus and Black
grounds (Agostini et al. 2002b). Very few breed Kites Milvus migrans, which takes them south
in southern Italy, despite the availability of suit- through the Italian Peninsula and Sicily before
able habitat, and it has been suggested that this crossing the Mediterranean to North Africa.
distribution reflects the species’ relatively recent Many of these Short-toed Eagles cross the
colonisation of Italy (Campora & Cattaneo Mediterranean via Marettimo, a small, moun-
2006; Agostini & Mellone 2008). On migration, tainous island some 30 km off western Sicily
most Italian breeders appear to follow a cir- and 130 km northeast of Tunisia, at the nar-
cuitous route rather than crossing the central rowest point of the central Mediterranean.
Mediterranean, entering and departing Europe Passage of Short-toed Eagles at Marettimo
via the Strait of Gibraltar, and travelling occurs mostly during the first half of October
through northwest Italy, France and Spain (Agostini et al. 2002b, 2004b; Gustin &
(Agostini et al. 2002a,b; Premuda 2004). For Provenza unpubl.) and most of the birds aged
example, during 2005–07, c. 800 Short-toed during preliminary observations have proved to
Eagles, mostly adults, were observed annually be juveniles. Surveys of migrating raptors were
migrating northwards along the Tyrrhenian carried out on Marettimo in 2002 (3rd–19th
coast at Mount Colegno during the second half October) and 2007 (3rd–15th October).
of September (Premuda 2005, 2006, 2007).
In 2002, a total of 202 Short-toed Eagles was
Michele Panuccio
339. Raptor observation point, Marettimo, Italy, October 2007.
506 © British Birds 102 • September 2009 • 506–508
