Booted Eagle saved Project support for 2012 Spring ... - LIPU-UK

Above: Lammergeier in flight, photograph by LIPU Council member,Michele Mendi, see p 5. Cover picture: Booted Eagle at Gravina diLaterza, photo by Vittorio Giacoia. Below: Flamingos can be seen atSale Porcus in Sardinia, see p 23, photo by David Lingard.Ali Spring 12Page 2

Nobody said it would be easyEditorialDavid LingardAlmost everyone involved in nature conservationis finding life very difficult, as the vitally neededfunds are drying up almost daily.Like most similar organisations, LIPU relies oncontracts from the state or regional authorities fora large part of its income. However, in the last fouryears the budget of the Environment Ministry hasbeen slashed to a tenth of its former level and thiscannot fail to cause problems for our friends in Italy.The legacy of the banking crisis is that governmentshave to make a real attempt to balance the booksafter decades of borrowing without a thought ofhow they were to repay the debt. The new realismsimply means that priorities are being set as to whatspending by governments can be cut and whatcannot. Tragically, the needs of the environmentalways count for little when placed against healthcareand similar human needs.I offer these grim comments in the Spring edition ofthe Ali – the one which carries our only appeal fordonations over and above your annual membershipsubscription. We are proud to be different from thosecharities which bombard members with appeals onan almost monthly basis but that makes this time ofthe year doubly critical to our success.As in every year, we have agreed with our friendsin Parma that we will fund four projects in the yearahead. We make this agreement in good faith andthen hope that our fund raising meets the targetAli Spring 12Page 3

– until three years ago this was always easily achieved.Since then we have been less successful and, thisyear, we have had to reduce our support commitment– full details are in this issue.Please give us all the help you can in this appeal, theneeds of birds in Italy are decreasing only slowly butthe funds to carry on the vital work are becomingharder and harder to find. In past years you haveresponded magnificently to the call, please help usagain and make Italy a safer and better place for thebirds we love.* * *COVER STORYVittorio Giacoia, the warden of the LIPU Oasi “Gravina diLaterza” in Puglia sent me this report.On a Sunday morning in December I arrivedat the visitor centre of the LIPU oasis and, asalways, I was going to open the gate to the centre. Itwas then that I saw a bird of prey hovering on theedge of the ravine at about 25-30 metres high, it wasthe size of a buzzard, but it was very clear that it wasnot a buzzard, but I could not identify the strangebird of prey. Unfortunately I did not have binocularsand a few minutes later, once I had opened the visitorcentre, the bird had disappeared. Unfortunately,I heard gunfire in the distance and my thoughtsimmediately went to that raptor flying so low. I hadother matters to deal with, and after about an hour acar stopped in front of the visitor centre of the oasis.A man got out and asked me if I was part of LIPU, Inodded and the man opened the boot of the car andpulled out a bird of prey which, from a distance, IAli Spring 12Page 4

Better protectionAnd yet, there have been positive signs. For a longtime Italy has ignored important provisions of theBirds Directive. Following prosecution and a finefor non-compliance, law 157/92 was enacted which,among other things, outlaws hunting during the prebreedingmigration period. Following a campaignby LIPU, environmentalists and animal protectionorganisations, 11 regions have fallen into line, mainlyin the South. Led by Puglia, they have changedthe opening of hunting for woodcock, thrush andwaterfowl from the traditional third Sunday ofSeptember to the first of October, and broughtforward the closing date by 10-20 days. This is animportant change, given the importance of Januaryto their breeding habits, and the natural difficulties ofsuch a cold month. This suggests a sensible next step:that hunting be closed on 31 December.Worst offendersNot all regions have been as compliant. Seven:Lombardy, Liguria, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Sardinia and Lazio, have ignoredthe new law completely, and the worst cases, Lazioand Sardinia, have refused to comply even withthe orders of Regional Administrative Tribunal andthe Council of State. The illegitimate actions ofLazio and Sardinia, with their irreversible damageto wildlife, have pushed us into action. Followingrepeated warnings, we are resorting to the PublicProsecutors and the Audit Court. We are not going totolerate destruction of nature and neglect of the ruleof law any longer.Ali Spring 12Page 6

Anti-poaching:Cagliari – 8,000 snares destroyedIt is called ‘Pillonis de taccula’: an eight-bird skewereaten as a delicacy around Cagliari, mainly in theChristmas period. A LIPU anti-poaching camp inSardinia has achieved impressive results against thisillegal and cruel ‘tradition’. Together with CABS(Committee Against Bird Slaughter), the volunteershid miniature cameras in the woods. These camerasfilmed six of these poachers, who were reported tothe Carabinieri at Capoterra for illegal poaching andcruelty to animals.Working in collaboration with the Carabinieri, campvolunteers have destroyed 7,934 bird snares and 50wire cages for trapping medium to large mammals.Volunteers also succeeded in putting a name tothree poachers previously filmed in 2010, again byhidden cameras. In raids on their homes, Carabinieridiscovered and confiscated both frozen birds andpoaching equipment.A man from Capoterra was stopped by theCarabinieri and reported for illegal poaching, crueltyto animals and possession of specially protectedspecies.Brescia – Two tons of traps removedLIPU agents, acting under the leadership ofInspector Piergiorgio Candela, have been active inthe area around Brescia, where ‘seasonal’ poaching isa continuous, open sore. Tens of badly-treated dogshave been found, kept on short chains and withoutadequate shelter. Over two tons of bow and gin trapshave been removed, holding over a hundred dyingAli Spring 12Page 7

obins and other birds, as well as cages of varioussizes for trapping animals.The volunteers have also located a thousand metresof nets, containing countless dead birds, all strangled.Several decoy birds were also found, imprisonedin small, filthy cages, and these have been set free.In some cases the traps and nets were set out inplain view, near to chicken coops, vegetable patches,gardens, and woods sheltered by mountain passes.The agents were helped in their work both bydetailed information volunteered by legal hunters,worried that their dogs would be caught in thepoachers’ nets, and by horrified tourists, whostumbled upon dying robins, caught in row upon rowof snares.THE BLACKBEARD VULTURE,THE GOLDEN EAGLE AND POISONby Simona ImperioPersecuted for Centuries, the Lammergeierreturns to the Alps.It deserves the reintroduction project, which hashad particular success in the Stelvio Park, watchedover by LIPU activists. A success story? It’s a bit earlyto say - and watch out for poison pellets.Ali Spring 12Page 8

activists decided a few months ago to take part inthe annual census of Lammergeier and GoldenEagle. Every year in October about 500 volunteersurveyors, in the whole of the Alpine range (160of them in Stelvio alone) take key positions torecord simultaneously the presence of pairs andsingle members of the two species, often, likeourselves, facing snow and ice! The experience hasbeen gratifying, above all in seeing so many peopleenthusiastically involved, knowing that they arecontributing to the success of the project. The resultis that the population seems to be showing a slow butcontinuous growth.A success story, then? We cannot yet lower our guard.The breeding pairs of Lammergeier are still too few,and it takes little to disturb a sitting pair and makethem abandon the eggs. Other potential dangersinclude poisoning by lead from the ammunitionuse by hunters of ungulates (deer), a real dangerfor all predators of carrion, as reported for the firsttime in Italy, in the Study of Incidence in the FaunaHunting Plain of the Province of Sondrio in 1997.In the following years, the Province of Stelvio, withthe collaboration of the Cariplo Foundation and theProvince of Sondrio itself, promoted the project,“Welcome Back Lammergeier”, seeking to improvethe knowledge of the species itself and promoteconcrete and lasting action for its conservation. Workof awareness-raising and scientific research whichwill help these marvellous creatures to resume thenoble role which awaits them in our mountains.Interview with Enrico Bassi, of Stelvio ParkRaptors and Lead PoisoningAli Spring 12Page 10

“The impact of lead-poisoning on vultures andpartial carrion-eating raptors is much greater thanwas thought.” So says Enrico Bassi, ornithologistof the Stelvio National Park who, from 2008, withMaria Ferloni, of the Fauna of the Park of Stelvio,works on the experimental research on the riskof lead poisoning, in the project “Welcome BackLammergeier”.How did the project start?After having registered 2 cases, in 2005 and 2008, ofAlpine Lammergeier poisoned by lead, we discoveredthat this had already been covered in the literature. Inthe last decade, in fact, several cases of lead poisoningin raptors have been reported. Furthermore, inBavaria the ornithologist Brendl considers leadpoisoning the prime cause of unnatural deaths inGolden Eagles.But how is it possible that they ingest all this lead?The deer hunters, in all Alpine countries, usetraditional lead bullets, which, after the animal isstruck, fragment into dozens of minuscule shreds.It is common practice to empty out the slaughteredhead at the hunting place, so as not to contaminatethe meat and to reduce the weight to carry home.Poisoning of the raptors is certain when they feed onabandoned entrails, containing lead fragments.What are the results of your researches?At present we have analysed about 150 deer entrailsand these show a medium-positive presence of leadin more than 60% of samples, in some species 70%.The risk that a predator could feed on contaminatedAli Spring 12Page 11

entrails is thus much higher than was previouslythought.How might we eliminate this potential threat to predators?Thanks to this research, the Province of Sondrio willadopt the requirement, during the hunting-season2012 – 2013, to substitute lead bullets with lessfragmentary bullets, made of other metals and alloys;alternatively, we expect the complete removal ofentrails from the scene of slaughter.So how have the authorities received these proposals?The Province of Sondrio and the Park of Stelvioaccepted these problems immediately, putting menand financial resources at our disposal. The Region ofLombardy has also definitely approved these actions.What about the hunters?There is still a certain scepticism, but in generalthey have shown understanding. Many have in factimmediately co-operated with the project, providingentrails and information useful to research.Can we be optimistic?The first years will be the most critical, but the futurecourse of deer hunting is going in the right direction,and particularly that of single-material bullets, (whichdo not fragment), made of alternative material tolead, already much used in Austrian and Germanpractice.* * *Ali Spring 12Page 12

SARDINIA – POACHINGLIPU Press release 9 January 2012Sardinia. Volunteers at an anti-poaching camp havebeen threatened, then attacked with stones. LIPUhas identified the offenders and is taking civil action.“Get lost you *****, we’re going to kill you.” “Leaveus alone, you *****.” These threats were made toLIPU volunteers by poachers near Capoterra andAssemini, in the Basso Sulcis area of Sardinia, wherean anti-poaching camp is at work. The volunteersmanaged to dodge a hail of stones thrown at them bypoachers, although a car was hit by a rock smashingone of its windows. “We are victims of violent andunacceptable behaviour”, says Fulvio MamoneCapria, president of LIPU BirdLife Italy, whowas working at the camp. “Some of the poachershave been identified from previous reports to theCarabinieri. We are taking legal action”, he continues,“to have these poachers banned from the areas wherethey lay their traps, and to have them charged withthreatening behaviour. In future we will need to takeprecautions to avoid a repetition of such aggression.”“We are combing the area alongside our colleaguesfrom the Committee Against Bird Slaughter(CABS), who have joined us from all over Italy.Searching even off the beaten track, we havemade safe thousands of traps laid on the groundand up in the trees” says Giovanni Malara, LIPUanti-poaching director and camp co-ordinator.“Recently we discovered tens of dead birds, includingRobins, Hawfinch, thrushes, Blue Tits, GreatTits, Blackbirds, and even a Sparrowhawk, foundhanging from a branch, its leg caught in a snare. TheAli Spring 12Page 13

Sparrowhawk is an importantbird for Sardinian biodiversity,and its capture confirms boththe indiscriminate methods usedby illegal hunters, and the damagethat they are capable of causing to theisland’s wildlife.”LIPU volunteers have discoveredthousands of bird and mammaltraps in just two weeks. The operation willcontinue as planned.* * *BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONALby Giovanni Albarella, LIPU report sectionParaguay, a paradise threatened bydeforestationSituated in the centre of Latin America, Paraguayis divided in two by its eponymous river: thenorthern part of the country, called Chaco, isthe wilder part, rich in biodiversity and with fewinhabitants, whilst the southern part contains thecapital, Asunción. Although Paraguay is quitesmall compared with the other countries of SouthAmerica, it is, however, characterised by a remarkableenvironmental diversity and a very rich variety ofanimals, especially birds, with about 712 speciesrecorded. We spoke to Alberto Yanosky, directorof Guyra Paraguay, which is a partner of BirdLifeInternational.Ali Spring 12Page 14

Alberto, what are the main threats for birds in Paraguay?The main threat is certainly the loss of territory.Paraguay contains six important ecoregions, twoof which are in particular danger: the AtlanticForest, which has lost 90% of its original extent todeforestation, and the Forest of Chaco, which hasundergone deforestation at a rate of 1,200 hectaresper day. Other threats come from the uncontrolledincrease in agriculture, water pollution andurbanisation.One of your principal activities is protection of forests. Whatare the objectives?We are working in many areas to show theimportance of the forests in supplying theecosystems. Guyra Paraguay are conducting aproject included in the programme “Forest ofHope”, which is evaluating the value of 10 thousandhectares of virgin forest in offsetting the productionof 850 thousand tons of CO2, in order to ensureconservation. This includes 270 hectares incollaboration with the indigenous Mbya tribe in theAtlantic Forest, and another 4,700 hectares with theIshir tribe in the Chaco-Pantanal region.Do you believe that the laws in Paraguay are effective inconserving nature?Legislation in Paraguay is innovative, modern andcomprehensive, but the great problem is that theauthorities do not enforce the laws. One example isthe case of the Bay of Asunción, an Important BirdArea (IBA) protected by national laws. However,this habitat has been badly damaged as a result of theplanning and construction of an enormous highwayAli Spring 12Page 15

along the bank of the River Paraguay, with negativeeffects on American migratory routes.Do you collaborate with BirdLife partners from other SouthAmerican countries?Yes, on a permanent basis, and not only in southAmerica. Along with partners from Argentina, Braziland Uruguay, we founded the Prairie Alliance, andwith many American partners we are collaboratingto safeguard migratory and aquatic birds. In additionwe have worked with Nature Kenya by giving help toconserve fragile habitats.Thanks to your efforts, the Bare-throated Bellbird (Procniasnudicollis) has been recognized as the national bird. Whywas this species chosen?Paraguay has a very widespread musical tradition andmany popular songs refer to birds: the most popularone is Pájaro Campana (Bare-throated Bellbird).Following a petition with more than 25 thousandsignatures, we promoted a law which when passedin Congress recognised the Bare-throated Bellbird asthe national bird of Paraguay.Guyra Paraguay was born in 1997: what are the prospectsfor such a young association?Our ambition is to be recognized as an authoritativeorganization in the field of conservation ofbiodiversity and in the sustainable use of naturalresources, especially with respect to birds and theirenvironment. Our prospects are based on six pillars:• Conservation of species, by means of themonitoring of threatened populations, andcreating specific action plans;Ali Spring 12Page 16

• Conservation of sites by means of the promotionof sustainable use of resources in priority areasfor biodiversity;• Promotion of the landscape by means of constantmonitoring of all ecoregions and the promotionof sustainable agriculture;• Influencing policies so that biodiversityconservation, climate change and land use areindirectly taken into account in all decisions;• Participation by citizens through appropriatemeans of communication and education, inorder to integrate the importance of natureconservation in development and respect forhuman rights;• Consolidation of the association through thereinforcing of its own capacity to manage anddevelop projects.As Doctor Claudio Prieto, founder of GuyraParaguay said: “Being part of the Council of GuyraParaguay is a responsibility which allows us to bewilling champions in the defence of the biodiversityof our own country”.Identity Card: Guyra ParaguayDate of birth – 1997General Director – Alberto YanoskyMembers – 300Number of Important Bird Areas (IBA) – 57Number of species globally threatened – 27Website – www.guyra.org.pyAli Spring 12Page 17

BIRDWATCHING IN SPRINGSee the map on page 31Spring is here and, as nature reawakens, Italyis replenished with thousands of birds. Theperiod from March to May is probably the besttime of year in Italy to see birds. It is at this timethat an extraordinary number of species, both rareand common, “African” and “northern” cross thecountry in large numbers. The earliest arrivals arethe waterfowl: Garganey, Black-tailed Godwit andRuff (from the end of February), at times in mixedgroups with resident species or late winter visitors,especially in the wet zones and in the north. Atthe small Tyrrhenian islands from March on, themigration of passeriformes and the first raptors,such as Short-toed Eagle, Black Kite and MarshHarrier can be seen. House Martins also arrivein March but the mass arrival of trans-Saharanmigrants such as Swallows, Sand Martins and Sylviawarblers (Whitethroat, Subalpine and Moltoni’s) andflycatchers (pied and collared) do not arrive untilApril and May. The herons also arrive in March withthe Purple Heron, Night Heron and Squacco Heron.The reed beds erupt with the frantic sound of theReed Warbler, the Sedge Warbler and the Great ReedWarbler, while the woods sound with the constantlow whistle of the Scops Owl and the monotonouspurr of the Turtle Dove. And then there are, the everrarer, shrikes, particularly the Woodchat.May brings the extraordinary migration of the HoneyBuzzard, especially in Sicily and across the Straits ofMessina, from where tens of thousands of individualsfly the length of the peninsula to migrate northnorth-east.Other passerines arrive: Garden Warblers,Ali Spring 12Page 18

Spotted Flycatchers and the Icterine Warbler, whichmigrates through Italy, while the similar MelodiousWarbler, prefers to cross Spain before nesting in Italy.All this is reason enough to grab our binoculars andto go out in search of Italy’s spectacular variety ofbirds. This first part is dedicated to bird watchingin spring and here we describe 12 wonderful placeswhere hours can be spent watching the birds duringthe spring migration.1. Conero Regional Nature ReserveThe Regional reserve of mount Conero, in theMarche, is a long calcareous coast bordering theAdriatic, characterised by beaches, rocky outcrops,wetlands and woodland. The Park covers an area of5,800 hectares, including four municipalities in theprovince of Ancona.In spring, numerous species stop in the Park onmigration, particularly raptors, with honey buzzardsand marsh harriers in their thousands. Severalrare species can also be seen, such as the LevantSparrowhawk, the Greater Spotted Eagle and otherlarge birds, such as both the storksand Cranes. The PeregrineFalcon and the Blue RockThrush nest in the cliffs. Over 200species have been recorded in thisarea.How to get there: Leave theA14 motorway at AnconaSud in the direction ofPoggio di Ancona, (c 10-15km), from where it is possible toobserve migrating raptors.Ali Spring 12Page 19

2. The Straits of Messina (Sicilian side)The Straits of Messina form the most importantbottle-neck in Italy for the migration of thousandsof diurnal raptors that cross the Mediterranean inspring, on route from Africa to breeding grounds innorthern Europe. The area offers an incomparablechance to observe high concentrations of species,including the rare Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagleand Egyptian Vulture.The first Black Kites arrive in early March but thegreatest concentrations of birds arrive in May, withtens of thousands of Honey Buzzards, thousands ofBee-eaters, Purple Herons, Spoonbills and manypasserines.To reach the observation points take the via Palermo(SS113) or the Viale Giostra (SP51) from the centreof Messina to the Monti Peloritani: Portella Castanea,Monte Ciccia and Santa Rosalia.3. The Po Delta, RavennaThough once home to far wider expanses ofmarshland, the area around Ravenna still offersvaluable salt lagoons, woodland and marshes. Fromthe north of the town of Ravenna, it extends to thePark of the Po Delta in Emilia-Romagna between theprovinces of Ravenna and Ferrara.At Punte Alberete-Valle Mandriole it is possibleto see Purple, Squacco and Night Herons as wellas Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Pygmy Cormorant andFerruginous Duck (in the pools). The Pialasseand the Cervia salt marshes are home to variouswaders; Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover,Ali Spring 12Page 20

Little Stint, Ruff. Great Spotted Woodpeckers,nocturnal raptors and numerous residentpasserines (Short-toed Treecreeper,Nuthatch) and some migratoryspecies (Willow Warbler, PiedFlycatcher, Golden Oriole, Robin,Blackcap, Song Thrush) can be found inthe San Vitale pine forest. Ravenna canbe reached from the A14 motorway. Takethe SS309 Romea for the northern observationareas or the SS16 Adriatica for the Cervia saltmarshes.4. Capo d’Otranto and the Alimini LakesThe Adriatic coastline is rich in marshland andcoastal lakes such as the Alimini lakes and the Capod’Otranto, an extraordinary area of natural beautythat offers the chance, in spring, to observe diurnalraptors and many other species.In early March adult male Pallid and Marsh Harriersarrive just before the numerous other spring visitors:Montagu’s Harrier, Crane, Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel,Black Kite, the rare Long-legged Buzzard and boththe Black and White Storks. Red-rumped Swallows,Whinchat and Black-eared Wheatear and the varioussub-species of the Yellow Wagtail are particularlycommon. The Alimini lakes abound in waterfowlwith waders (Grey Plover, Little Stint, KentishPlover and Ringed Plover) along the banks, and thesurrounding pine forests are home to Short-toedTreecreeper, Firecrest and the occasional Crossbill.Capo d’Otranto can be reached by road 173 in thedirection of Santa Cesarea Terme and the Aliminilakes from Brindisi on the SS 611.Ali Spring 12Page 21

5. The LIPU Torrile ReserveWhere once fields of maize and sugar beetsurrounded a sugar refinery, now a mosaic ofwetland habitats has been designated for birds: TheLIPU Torrile, reserve now known as the “Torrile eTrecasali” was instituted in 2010 by the Region ofEmilia Romagna.Over 270 species have been recorded on the reserve,amongst which the Black-winged Stilt and theLapwing. Other waders (Golden and Grey Plovers,Ruff, Snipe, Curlew) can be seen in spring beforethey leave for breeding grounds in northern Europe.Hundreds of pairs of herons gather in the heronry(Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, NightHeron). The elusive Bittern and Little Bittern canoccasionally be seen lurking in the reed beds.From Parma take the SP343 Asolana in the directionof Colorno. At San Polo di Torrile turn left andfollow the signs to the reserve, which is open to thepublic on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays(09-1300 and 1430-1800) from March to November.The reserve is closed when there is snow and ice.6. The Oristano WetlandsThe Oristano wetlands are one of the mostimportant areas in Sardinia for waterfowl.The area includes sea water channels,salt and freshwater marshes, lagoons,seasonal marshes and rock pools.The Mistras is home to theOsprey, while Purple and GreyHerons and egrets abound on theAli Spring 12Page 22

S’Ena Arrubbia, alongside the Ferruginous Duck andthe Purple Gallinule.Red-crested Pochards and Cormorants are commonon the Cabras lake. Lesser Kestrels, Peregrine Falconsand Blue Rock Thrushes breed on the cliff faces.Thousands of Flamingos come to Sale Porcus, everyyear, to feed on the brine shrimp, a crustacean thatconstitutes the basis of their diet. Other birds includethe Common and Little Terns, herons, SlenderbilledGull and Black-winged Stilt and the moreuncommon Crane and Greylag Goose.Sale Porcus can be reached from the 292 to the northof Oristano, the Cabras lake is on the road betweenCabras and Riola Sardo. S’Ena Arrubbia is on thesouth-bound road, Arborea.7. The LIPU Brabbia Nature ReserveIn the province of Varese, between the lakes ofComabbio and Varese, a spectacular succession ofreed beds and pools surrounds one of the mostimportant wetlands in north Italy: the LIPU Brabbianature reserve, an important place for more than 200species of migratory birds.Spring sees the arrival of numerous raptors suchas the Marsh Harrier, Honey Buzzard and theoccasional Short-toed Eagle and Red Kite. The queenof the reserve is the Ferruginous Duck and Teal andGarganey can also be seen. Purple Herons and LittleBitterns can be seen in the reed beds. April and Maysee the arrival of the Reed, Great Reed, Cetti’s andMarsh Warblers as well as the exotic Vinous-throatedParrotbill, an introduced species from China.Ali Spring 12Page 23

The visitors’ centre is in Inarzo, in the province ofVarese. Leave the A8 motorway at Buguggiate/Azzateand follow directions for Bodio Lomnago and Inarzo.8. CapraiaThe island of Capraia, part of the National Park ofthe Tuscan Archipelago lies about 50 km off the coastof mainland Italy and is characterised by kilometresof steep, rugged cliffs of volcanic rock.In spring the island becomes a crossroads for trans-Saharan migrants such as Woodchat and RedbackedShrike, Pied and CollaredFlycatcher, Wood Warbler,Whitethroat and Moltoni’sWarbler, Bee-eater andother rare species such as theAquatic Warbler, Red-breastedFlycatcher and Rufous Bushchat.Herons, waders and rails can beseen at the Vado del Porto andalong the rocky coast. Osprey,Hobby, harriers, Rollerand Red-throated Pipit arealso found in the area.The island can be reached byferry in three hours from theport of Livorno. Several paths windtheir way up from the town towards Monte Arpagnaand the Stagnone, the island’s only fresh water lake.Cooperativa Parco Naturale Isola di Capraia, CapraiaIsola (LI), tel 0586-905071.Ali Spring 12Page 24

9. VentoteneThe island of Ventotene (in the PonzianoArchipelago), now a natural reserve for the protectionof marine life, is characterised by Mediterraneanmaquis and shrub land. Today it is consideredan important resting place in spring for, oftenexhausted, migratory birds that having crossed theMediterranean later make their way to the northernEurope.Migration begins in February and continues untilthe end of May: Quail, herons (Purple Heron,Little Bittern, egrets) and numerous passeriformes(Swallow, Willow Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear,Pied Flycatcher and many otherssuch as the rare Rosefinch,Lesser Grey Shrike andRüppell’s Warbler), and otheruncommon species such as BlackStork, Short-eared Owl and StoneCurlew.Leave the A1 Rome-Naplesmotorway at Cassino and take theSS630 to the port of Formia (provinceof Latina). There is a ferry to Ventotene.website: www.riservaventotene.it; Tel. visitorscentre: 0771/85257.10. Chiarore Nature Reserve – MassaciuccoliThe Chiarore nature reserve, run by the LIPUin Massaciuccoli, covers an area of 47 hectaresin the Migliarino Regional Park, San Rossore,Massaciuccoli, and includes many of the mostcharacteristic lake environments.Ali Spring 12Page 25

The area is of great ornithological importance inspring, particularly for several species of duck onmigration to northern Europe (Teal, Shoveler,Garganey), as well as waders such as Redshank,Wood Sandpiper, Ruff and Black-winged Stilt. Black,Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns also stopin the area.Leave the A12 motorway Genova-Livorno at PisaNord. Take the Aurelia road and after 10 metres,turn right into via Traversagna. Follow signs forMassaciuccoli and the Riserva Naturale. (7 km).Visitors centre and Nature Museum - Via del Porto 6– loc. Massaciuccoli (LU)Tel. 0584 975567 – e-mail: oasi.massaciuccoli@lipu.it11. CapriCapri, in the gulf of Naples, is covered byMediterranean maquis and high rolling hills with arugged coastline.Like many of the Tyrrhenian islands it is animportant migratory point, inspring, for many speciesreturning from Africa tothe Palearctic, with manypasseriformes (Golden Oriole,Subalpine and Moltoni’sWarblers, Whitethroat, PiedFlycatcher, Whinchat, Blackearedand Northern Wheatear,Woodchat Shrike, OrtolanBunting, Black-headed Bunting,Spotted Flycatcher, GardenWarbler) and raptors: Montagu’sHarrier, Honey Buzzard, Hobby,Ali Spring 12Page 26

Red- footed Falcon and in late May, Eleonora’sFalcon.Ferries for the island leave from Naples, Sorrentoand Castellamare di Stabia. The ornithological centrein Capri is in Villa San Michele, Viale Axel Munthe34, in Anacapri. Tel: 081-8371401.12. The Gulf of ManfredoniaBetween the promontory of the Gargano andthe Ofanto estuary in Puglia, lies the Gulf ofManfredonia, a large, 60 km long coastal inlet,characterised by a succession of wetlands, floodedpastures, lagoons and saltmarshes, some of whichmake up the National Park of the Gargano.Beyond the Frattarolo marsh (flooded by theCandelaro river), which can be reached from theroad, lies the vast reed bed of Lake Salso, fed by theriver Cervaro. Further south the most important siteis the saltmarsh of Margherita di Savoia.During spring migration thousands of Black-tailedGodwit and Ruff can be seen between the Frattarolomarsh and Lake Salso but the area is particularlyimportant for the hundreds of Glossy Ibis, Crane,White Stork and Red-footed Falcon that arrive in lateApril and early May. Flamingos and Italy’s highestconcentration of Avocets create a wonderful spectaclein the saltmarshes.The SP141 (ex SS159) linking Manfredonia toMargherita di Savoia cuts across the area offering thepossibility for birdwatching in the various zones.* * *Ali Spring 12Page 27

NEWS FROM LIPU-UKLIPU-UK Annual Prize DrawEach year we hold our annual prize draw and it isgoing from strength to strength. However, if youdon’t like draws and would rather not receive ticketsplease tell me as I won’t send tickets to those whohave said they don’t want them - this will save youannoyance and me printing costs.For those who do take part, you might be surprisedto compare your chances with those of similar drawsheld by larger organisations. Our prizes have beensimplified and seem to be very popular; the first prizeis a cheque for £500 and there are two more of £200and £100. Last year, 230 people bought tickets - sothat must offer a pretty good chance of winning!The draw is also a steady source of income andshowed a “profit” of about £2,400 so to all those whobought tickets in the past and to those who will buytickets in the coming year, a heartfelt thank you.The winners of the 2011 draw are:Mr A Robertshaw of Leeds: £500Mrs C Glover of Sussex: £200Mrs G Moon of Gwent: £100Ali Spring 12Page 28

LIPU-UK ANNUAL APPEALDespite the financial problems affecting us all, wesucceeded in funding those projects we had agreedupon, but it was only possible by using a part of thereserves. This year we have reduced our target, but itis still going to be a real challenge. However, our onlypurpose is to help LIPU in its essential work in Italyand to do that we have agreed to appeal for supportfor the following projects in the year ahead:• Migration of raptors through Sicily – year 9 of10. This survey dovetails with the anti-poachingcamp.• Anti-poaching – the work goes on in Brescia, onthe Messina Strait and in Sardinia.• Supplies for Raptor Recovery centres – theprovision of drugs, dressings etc for the placesthat need it.• The Marine IBA project – year 4. Governmentcuts mean the funding has dried up, so we willstep in to help.We need to raise €46,500 in order to fund this workfully and I hope you will agree that all the causesare worthwhile and worthy of your support. Lastyear, you, our friends and members, respondedmagnificently and raised a total of over £25,000 Ihope you will be able to repeat this splendid level ofsupport. As well as these donations from membersand friends, we are grateful for the valuable supportwe receive from trusts and grant-making bodies.Ali Spring 12Page 29

I am pleased to be able to thank the following fortheir generosity:The A S Butler Trust gave £150, the Clare Lees Trustand the G W Trust each sent £300, the Shirley PughTrust donated £150, the Peter Smith Trust for NatureConservation gave us £1000, The Udimore Trust £50and the Valerie White Memorial Trust donated £250.Bird clubs and groups were represented by theGwent Ornithological Society who donated £50, theRSPB Highland Group £100, Wakefield NaturalistsSociety gave us £10 and the WorcestershireConservation Volunteers made a donation of £60– sincere thanks to them all.Finally, I am grateful that, for another year, AISPA,the Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection ofAnimals, continued its valuable support. AISPAplayed a hugely important part in the founding ofLIPU, and by supporting LIPU-UK over the years aspecial bond exists between our organisations – mysincere thanks.* * *LIPU-UK DELEGATEDavid LingardFernwoodDoddington RoadWhisbyLincsLN6 9BXTel: 01522 689030www.lipu-uk.orgmail@lipu-uk.orgMy thanks go to the translators of this issue whohave done such a good job as usual: Cicely Adelson,Barbara Avery, Joanna Bazen, Daria Dadam,Tony Harris, Peter Rafferty and John Walder.Line drawines are by courtesy of the RSPB andphotographs are © the credited photographers.* * *Ali Spring 12Page 30

75BolzanoA young Kestrel just a day or two after leaving the nestBellunoSendrioTrentoUdineGoriziaAosta VareseComoPordenoneNovara Milano Brescia TrevisoVeronaTriesteVercelliPadova VenicePavia PiacenzaTorino AstiRovigoAllessandriaParmaFerraraCuneoGenovaRavennaSavona La SpeziaBolognaImperiaMassaRiminiLucca PistoiaForliPesaro108LivornoPisa FirenzaAnconaMacerataSienaAscoli PicenoGrossetoTeramoTerniPescara316SassariOlbiaViterboA Corn NuoroBunting photographed in spring in CataloniaOristanoCagliariRietiL’AquilaChietiRomaFrosinoneIserniaLatina911CasertaNapoliCampobassoFoggiaAvellinoSalerno212BarlettaBariMateraPotenzaCosenzaCatanzaroTarantoLecceBrindisi4OtrantoTrapaniPalermoMessinaReggio di CalabriaAgrigentoEnnaCaltanissettaRagusaCataniaSiracusaThis map illustrates the bird watching sites described on page 18Ali Spring 12Page 31

STOP THE MASSACREPleaseAli Spring 12Page 32help us