Conservation and connectivity of endangered bird species
Dispersal is one of the factors that drive the dynamics and the demographic trends of populations. The osprey Pandion haliaetus is a raptor with unique morphological and behavioural specializations for catching live fish. Our research on the spatial ecology of this raptor focuses on dispersal strategies and movements in the Mediterranean area.
There were no nesting couples of ospreys in Italy since the 1960's. This year, following an intense effort involving translocation of young birds from Corse, the first ospreys hatched in the Parco Regionale della Maremma (Tuscany). This was an exceptional event that had a broad resonance on Italian media.
The project is done in collaboration with Giampiero Sammuri and Andrea Sforzi, Parco Regionale della Maremma, Olivier Duriez, University of Montpellier, and several partners that provided generous funding, equipment, and logistical support. Flavio Monti, who cared for the young birds during and after the translocation from Corse to Italy, in now a PhD student of our group and is in charge of the operative aspects of the projects in Italy.
