Genetic variability and population structuring in the European Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus feldeggii

We analysed variation in 10 polymorphic microsatellites and a variable portion of control region of mtDNA in 24 specimens from 3 populations of European Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus feldeggii living in Sicily, continental Italy and the Balkan area to assess species' genetic diversity and population structure in the poorly investigated range of this threatened subspecies. We considered also a dataset of previously published mtDNA sequences of the other Lanner Falcon subspecies and of Hierofalco subgenus members (F. cherrug, F. rusticolus and F. jugger) to outline the genetic variation in the region on a wide-ranging basis. Regard with mtDNA we identified 6 haplotypes from our 24 European Lanner Falcon specimens, 3 of which were new and unique (1 Sicilian, 2 Balkans) and the 3 others already known and shared with other Hierofalcons. The 62.5% of our sample, including 14 of Sicilians and one Apulia specimen, belonged to haplotype H_24 shared with F. c. cherrug, F. rusticolus and F. jugger. MtDNA analyses of European Lanner Falcons showed a dispersed pattern of our specimens inside the main Hierofalco clades and haplo-groups in a way congruent to what found in recent literature. These analyses confirmed that none of the Hierofalcons form a monophyletic group, nonetheless the Lanner Falcons can be subdivided in two major Palaearctic (F. b. feldeggii, F. b. erlangeri and F. b. tanypterus) and sub-Sahara African (F. b. biarmicus and F. b. abyssinicus) clades. Microsatellites analysis yielded a first outline of population genetic structure, with genetic identity between continental Italy and Sicily and a moderate degree of differentiation of the Balkan area with Sicily and continental Italy. The 3 populations did not show significant departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with low values of the inbreeding coefficients and had allele richness and haplotype diversity consistent with literature. Microsatellites analysis (Nm, frequency of private alleles) suggests a gene flow among the three examined populations and the connection of Sicilian population to those of mainland

Individual variation in orientation promotes a 3000-km latitudinal change in wintering grounds in a long-distance migratory raptor

Migrating juvenile birds rely on endogenous information in choosing the direction in which to fly, but such input may be overridden by social interactions with experienced individuals. We tagged seven juvenile Short-toed Eagles Circaetus gallicus with GPS transmitters in southern Italy. This trans-Saharan migrant flies mainly by soaring and is therefore not well adapted to performing long water crossings. Five of the seven tagged juveniles used the longer but apparently safer route towards the Strait of Gibraltar, and two migrated along a southerly trajectory and subsequently spent the winter in Sicily, apparently forced to do so by the 150-km-wide Sicily Channel. One of these individuals took the longer route the following autumn. These results, combined with long-term (15 years) visual field observations involving thousands of individuals, suggest that inexperienced Short-toed Eagles may learn their migratory routes from experienced adults, whereas some of them migrate south in response to an innate orientation instinct. Transport costs, inherited information and geography apparently interact, forcing some Short-toed Eagles to winter 3000 km to the north of the majority of their conspecifics.The study has been funded by the Osservatorio Faunistico of Regione Basilicata through the Parco Regionale Gallipoli Cognato – Piccole Dolomiti Lucane

IL FALCO PELLEGRINO (Falco peregrinus) IN SICILIA

having doubled in number during the period 1978-2006, the population of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus living in Sicily currently seems to be stable, and has very probably reached the carrying capacity at the current ecological conditions of the insular ecosystems. A continuous standardized census (2010-2019) estimated at least 257 pairs scattered across the main island, plus some 13-15 pairs living on the small islands around Sicily. The population is not randomly distributed, but rather it is concentrated in all the suitable habitats of the island, nesting in either small crags or large cliffs from sea level to 1,424 m asl; it is rarer in the north-eastern corner (Peloritani, Nebrodi, Aetna), with their mainly densely forested areas, and with fewer cliffs. In these less suitable parts of the region the density is half (0.5 vs 1 pair/100 km2) and the Nearest Neighbour Distance is double (10.7 vs 5.2 km) than the rest of the island. The reproduction cycle was delayed by 9 days (median values: from 28 February to 9 March) in the last 50 years, due to higher spring precipitations that negatively affected productivity. Currently (2010-2019), only 72% of pairs reproduce successfully, with an average fledging rate of 2.49±0.77 juveniles. Young peregrines disperse inside the island with occasional trips to the small islands nearby. Biologging and genetic data would suggest a relatively closed population. Illegal shooting, poisoning, electrocution and collision with wind towers and electroducts are the main causes of unnatural mortality. Annually a small quota of nests is still being robbed