VOLUME 2 (I-II) 1999

Articoli e Note/ Papers & Notes 
- La  nidificazione del Fenicottero Phoenicopterus ruber roseus in Sardegna.  Marcello Grussu 

- I Limicoli svernanti in Sicilia orientale: aggiornamento 1996-1999.  Andrea Corso 

- Indizi di nidificazione del Pettazzurro Luscinia svecica cyanecula in Sardegna.  Niki Scala 
- Osservazione di un ibrido tra Gabbiano corallino Larus melanocephalus e Gabbiano comune Larus ridibundus in Sicilia.  Andrea Corso, Renzo Ientile & Daniele Aliffi 

- Prima osservazione di Svasso cornuto Podiceps auritus in Sardegna.  Marcello Grussu 

- Ulteriore presenza invernale di Balestruccio Delichon urbica in Sardegna.  Frencesco Mascia 

-Avvistamento invernale di Aquila delle steppe Aquila nipalensis nel Golfo di Oristano (Sardegna occidentale).  Marcello Grussu 

- Aquila anatraia maggiore Aquila clanga nel Sulcis (Sardegna Sud occidentale). Maurizio Medda 

Recenti avvistamenti/ Recents records around the Region 
Periodo: agosto 1998 - marzo 1999 / August 1998 - March 1999. Marcello Grussu 

Hot Spot - La penisola di Stintino (Nurra). Mauro Sanna 

Progetti e Ricerche / Projects and Researches 

Novità  e Commenti / News and Comment 
- Richiesta di informazioni sulla Rondine montana Ptynoprogne rupestris nidificante su siti artificiali. Paul Isenmann
- Avifauna della Tunisia - Richiesta di collaborazione. Paul Isenmann

- Benvenuto al Gruppo ALTURA. 

Notizie LIPU / LIPU  Information 

Recensioni/ Reviews

Foto di copertina/ Cover photograph: Fenicotteri Phoenicopterus r. roseus adulti nello Stagno di Molentargius, Cagliari, primavera 1994./ Greater Flamingos, Stagno of Molentargius, Cagliari, Sardinia, spring 1994 (Roberto Meloni).

Black-winged Stilt (Piero Basoccu)

  ABSTRACTS

Marcello Grussu

The breeding of the Greater Flamingo in Sardinia (Italy).

The breeding of the Greater Flamingo in Sardinia was assumed several times during the last century, but without any proofs. In 1975 in the Stagno of Molentargius/Cagliari the first breeding attempt was recorded. In the period 1979-1999 I studied the summer presence, the ecology and breeding biology of the Greater Flamingo in Sardinia. During my researches I analysed the subsequent breeding attempts of the species and the breeding colonies; 24 breeding attempts were recorded, they were related to 18 nest building cases without laying and to 6 findings of single deserted eggs. None of these attempts produced any chicks; 67% of these colonies (where a maximum of 220 nests were built) were found in the south, near Cagliari. Other attempts took place in the south-west coast, in the south-east coast and northwards in the Gulf of Oristano. Single deserted eggs were found in nearly all these areas. The first breeding was recorded in 1993 in the Stagno of Molentargius where about 1,750 pairs reared about 1,000 chicks. The breeding took place again annually in this wetland with 1-2 colonies whose population, between 250 and 5,000 pairs, reared a maximum of 4,000 chicks. In 1999 owing to anthropic disturbances the area of Molentargius was deserted after the beginning of laying. The population moved to the salt-pan of Macchiareddu, at a distance of 10 km, where 1,200-1,400 pairs reared 720-745 chicks. Data are given about habitat, ecology and breeding behaviour; about description and size of colonies, nests and eggs; about species in breeding association and their influence on the breeding of the Greater Flamingo in Sardinia. In the period 1993-1998 the breeding population on the island had always represented nearly the whole of the Italian population and the 9.5-11.1% of the western Mediterranean population. In the same period the wetlands near Cagliari there was a maximum of 21,000 individuals, that is the 25% of the Greater Flamingos of western Mediterranean. In Sardinia the settling of the colonies can also take place at the end of February; laying takes place between the end of March and the end of June; but some adults were seen building their nests at the end of November, too. The breeding success in the Sardinian colonies varied from 52.2% (1993) to 90.9% (1994), with intermediate values in the other years. In the period 1993-1999 about 15,400 pairs bred and about 10,700 were reared, with a breeding success of 70.1%. The main causes of loss among eggs and chicks and deserted colonies are human interference, the electrocution and the impact of high-tension cables. (Gruppo Ornitologico Sardo – C.P. 160/C - 09045 Quartu Sant'Elena/ Cagliari)

Andrea Corso

The Waders wintering in south-eastern Sicily in 1996-1999.

Dates on the waders wintering in south-eastern Sicily have been already given by Corso (1995) concerning the winter 1990-1995. The present publication reports the censuses of the wintering waders in the period between 1996-1999 updating so the available notices. The area interested by the study is extended within the province of Syracuse, Catania and Ragusa. All the wetlands and the nearby coasts of the area have been checked in January of each winter considered. Several visits to each place  have been done. The counts given for each species refer to the addition of all the maximum counts for each species in each place. During the study 7,710 waders of 28 species have been counted; of these, seven were irregular. Eight are the most common species (70.6% of the total count): Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria (19.4%), Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (18%), Little Stint Calidris minuta (7.9%), Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus (7.5%), Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus (5.5%), Curlew Numenius arquata (4.38%), Dunlin Calidris alpina (4.33%) and Common Redshank Tringa totanus (3.3%). The first wintering records for Sicily of Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus and Dotterel Charadrius morinellus have been documented. Concerning the last one the wintering was also the first sure for Italy. Compared to the national situation, the area is one of the most important for Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus (on average 9 birds), Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius (7 birds), Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (9), Kentish Plover (146), Sanderling Calidris alba (the most important at all with 19 birds on average), Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii (3-6 irregularly), Curlew (85), Spotted Redshank (107), Greenshank Tringa nebularia (2-4), Marsh Sandpiper (1-2 irregularly, very few in Italy in winter) and Turnstone Arenaria interpres (1-2 irregularly, very rare in winter in all Italy). In comparison with the dates already published for the area an increasing trend in both the number of species and number of birds have been noticed. This may well be also imputed to the increasingly mild weather condition of the winter in the last years with low rain and as consequence low water-level in the wetlands. (LIPU - Via Trento, 49 - 43100 Parma)

Niki Scala

Sign of breeding of Bluethroat in Sardinia.

At the end of March 1997 a pair of Bluethroat of the race L. s. cyanecula has been observed in the area of the pond of Platamona (Sassari, north Sardinia). The pair showed several signs of breeding behaviour (food offers between the two members of the pair, transportation of materials intended for the construction of a nest inside a bush of Tamarix sp.). However, the nesting process was not completed. In fact, the pair abandoned the area in April, probably because of the reclamation work in the mentioned site. (Frazione Preparetto, 58/1 – 10081 Castellamonte/ Torino)

Marcello Grussu

First record of Slavonian Grebe in Sardinia.

An immature individual of Slavonian Grebe was seen in October 11th 1998 in the freshwater area of Santa Gilla lagoon/Cagliari. The species had already been recorded in Sardinia during the last century but without the support of any convincing data; this is therefore the first record. (Gruppo Ornitologico Sardo – C.P. 160/C - 09045 Quartu Sant'Elena/ Cagliari)

Francesco Mascia

Further winter presence of House Martin in Sardinia.

On January 8^th 1999 in the built-up area of Elmas (southern Sardinia) an individual of House Martin was recorded. It was the confirmation of the winter presence of this species on the island, as well as one of the rare cases in Italy. (via Salomone, 32 - 09030 Elmas)

Marcello Grussu

Winter record of Steppe Eagle in the Gulf of Oristano (West Sardinia).

On January 10^th 1999 an adult of Steppe Eagle was observed for a long time and at a short distance near the pond of Santa Giusta /Oristano. In western and central Europe the Steppe Eagle is an accidental species and it is very rare in winter. It was the fourth record in Sardinia and the tenth in Italy. The only previous winter record in Italy concerned an individual seen in Sardinia in 1901. (Gruppo Ornitologico Sardo – C.P. 160/C - 09045 Quartu Sant'Elena/ Cagliari)

Maurizio Medda

One Spotted Eagle in the Sulcis area (south-western Sardinia).

A wounded Spotted Eagle with first winter plumage was found on January 17^th 1998 in the Sulcis area near San Giovanni Suergiu (Cagliari). Once rehabilitated, it was set free in the same site by the middle of January 1999. In winter 1998-99 about 15 individuals of Spotted Eagle wintered in Italy. In Sardinia it was the fourth recording of the species, the last one being in 1970. (Via Tiepolo, 16- 09121 Cagliari)

Greater Flamingo