Ringing Centre Research Articles

Bird migration across the Mediterranean: ringing activities on Capri within the Progetto Piccole Isole

Palearctic-African spring migrants are faced with the challenging crossing of the double ecological barrier of the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. Islands represent unique opportunities to stopover and rest during these prolonged endurance flights. To study spring migration across the Mediterranean, the Italian Ringing Centre at INFS has co-ordinated the Progetto Piccole Isole since 1988 with Capri being among the most active stations. Islands are used as stopover sites by huge numbers of birds belonging to a wide range of species and irrespective of physical conditions of migrants. Clearly defined species-specific seasonal migration patterns are observed, and also differential migration of sex and age classes. Wide-front movements over the sea of typical nocturnal migrants occur also during daytime. Physiological studies confirm the importance of the short stopovers observed on the islands, which permit the birds to adjust their metabolic state, rest and rely, in many cases, on easily accessible nectar as an energetically rich food. Strong links with habitats both in Africa and within the Mediterranean confirm the need for internationally coordinated conservation strategies for Palearctic-African migrants.

Recent Changes in Distribution of Wintering Populations of Waterfowl Established on the Basis of Lithuanian Ringing Recoveries

Recent changes in the wintering grounds of the Lithuanian breeding population of Mute Swan, Mallard, Common Pochard, and Coot were established by means of the analysis of the long-term ringing data stored in the Data Bank of the Lithuanian Bird Ringing Centre. Significant changes in the wintering grounds of Mute Swan and Mallard of the Lithuanian breeding population have occurred since the late 1980s; the wintering grounds of Common Pochard and Coot, on the other hand, have changed just unremarkably. These changes were primarily caused by human impact and an increased number of mild winters during the present climatic amelioration.

THE RESULTS OF BIRD RINGING IN LITHUANIA DURING PERIO. 1979–1988

Abstract The purpose of this publication is to make an overview of bird ringing in Lithuania during period. 1979–1988. In the paper there are presented data on the number of ringed birds of all species, separately for two age groups (nestlings and full grown birds), during each calendar year, as well as given the lists of bird species with remarkably increased and remarkably decreased ringing totals in comparison with period. 1929–1978, number of birds ringed in different places of the country or by different ringers, number of recoveries of each species of bird ringed in Lithuania as well as abroad but recovered in Lithuania and received by Lithuanian Bird Ringing Centre during period. 1979–1988, etc.