Modelling the timing of migration of a partial migrant bird using ringing and observation data: a case study with the Song Thrush in Italy

• Published in: Movement ecology 2023-08, Vol.11 (1), p.47-47, Article 47
• Main Authors: Ambrosini, Roberto, Imperio, Simona, Cecere, Jacopo G, Andreotti, Alessandro, Serra, Lorenzo, Spina, Fernando, Fattorini, Niccolò, Costanzo, Alessandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Biogeography; Bird migration; Case studies; Citizen science data; Climate change; Environmental conditions; Global temperature changes; Hunting; Migration phenology; Migratory birds; Phenology; Protection and preservation; Ringing data; Science; Short-distance migration; Thrushes; Turdus philomelos; Weddings
• ISSN: 2051-3933; 2051-3933
• DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00407-z

The study of the timing of migration is fundamental to the understanding of the ecology of many bird species and their response to climate change, and it has important conservation and management implications e.g., for assessing the hunting seasons according to the EU Directive 2009/147/EC (Birds Directive). We developed a new method for the analysis of ringing data (both first capture and re-encounters) and citizen science observations, to assess the timing of pre- and post-nuptial migration of birds. This method was tested on the Song Thrush Turdus philomelos, using i) the Bird Ringing Database hosted by the ISPRA Italian Ringing Centre from the whole Italian peninsula, the three closest large islands (Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica), and Canton Ticino (Switzerland) and ii) the eBird data for the same study area. The results from both datasets consistently showed that pre-nuptial migration starts during the first 10-day period of January (Jan 1) in some central and southern areas of the Italian peninsula, in central Sicily, southern Sardinia, and Corsica. The onset of migration occurs on Jan 2 in the rest of central and southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia, and western Liguria, while it starts later in the north-eastern Alps, up to Mar 3. The end of post-nuptial migration is more synchronous, occurring on Nov 1 across most of Italy, slightly earlier (Oct 3) in northern Italy and later (Nov 2) in Sicily. The uncertainty of the estimated dates was