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A 26 anni dalla pubblicazione del primo atlante dedicato agli uccelli nidificanti e svernanti in Toscana, il Centro Ornitologico Toscano ha portato a compimento un secondo progetto di uguale natura... [Book review in Italian]

Throughout history there have been periods so exceptional that even today they are known by nicknames that immediately recall their memory...

In November 2022 the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds published the Ukrainian Breeding Bird Atlas.

Abstract Colonial waterbirds, a major biodiversity element occurring in the core of ultra-anthropized Europe, are ideal indicators of the wellness of inland wetlands. Nonetheless, there is a critical knowledge gap in their trend and population status. We present an uninterrupted 47 years-long dataset of the breeding populations of 12 species of colonial waterbirds (Ardeidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Plataleidae, Threskiornitidae) throughout a 58,000 km2 agricultural region in the higher Po basin (NW Italy). A trained team of collaborators censused with standardized field techniques the number of nests of each species at 419 colonies in the 1972–2018 period, summing up a total of 236,316 records. Data cleaning and standardization were performed for each census year, ensuring robust and consistent data. This dataset is among the largest ever collected for a guild of European vertebrates. It has already been used to describe the factors influencing population trends, and still offers opportunities to explore a wide range of key ecological processes such as biological invasions, global change consequences and biodiversity impact of agricultural practices.

Gli atlanti ornitologici sono strumenti importanti sia per acquisire informazioni preziose sulla qualità ambientale, sia per una corretta pianificazione del territorio. Di particolare rilevanza sono poi le indicazioni dei cambiamenti nelle distribuzioni che possono emergere da indagini condotte sullo stesso territorio a distanza di tempo. Prendendo spunto dalla pubblicazione a partire dal 2020 del secondo Atlante degli uccelli nidificanti in Europa (EBBA2) e di alcuni altre analoghe indagini sia a scala nazionale sia regionale, viene brevemente ricordata la storia di questa tipologia di opere e confrontata la situazione italiana con quella di altre nazioni sia europee che extra-europee. Per superare le difficoltà rilevate nel pubblicare i risultati del primo atlante degli uccelli svernanti in Italia, una possibile soluzione è l’adozione del modello semplificato già utilizzato dal Giappone in aderenza ai principi minimalisti della Shibusa.

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From the second half of the 20th century, some Asian or Eastern European species expanded their breeding range westward. These include red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus, black-headed bunting Emberiza melanocephala, common rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus, and citrine wagtail Motacilla citreola. All of these species are long-range migratory species that historically have their own wintering ranges concentrated in Southern Asia. Although migratory behavior is mainly controlled by genetic factors, there is evidence of a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. Therefore, in the event of specific environmental changes, the genetic basis for a rapid and diverse micro-evolutionary development that affects the future migration patterns of birds is already in place. Possible adaptations also include changes to migratory directions and the choice of new and closer winter quarters. It is therefore prudent to ask whether the long-range migratory species that have expanded their breeding range westward in Europe have also established new migration routes and wintering ranges. This research shows that over the last few decades, the wintering area of Motacilla citreola has expanded westwards, including significantly the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, Africa and Europe. Especially in the activation of the most western routes, a fundamental role was played by the phenomenon of post-fledging dispersal, manifested by young who, as also observed in other Asian passerines (e.g., Pallas's warbler Phylloscopus proregulus, yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus, pine bunting Emberiza leucocephalos), in autumn moved in different directions than the typical migratory route of their species. The Middle East and the neighboring Horn of Africa are progressively increasing in relevance as an additional area for the wintering of the species as a whole. Similarly, if in Europe the expansion of the breeding range towards the west continues in the future, West Africa, reached through Gibraltar, could become important as additional wintering ranges. In analogy with what is being observed for the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava, Europe itself is also becoming part of the wintering range of the species. In fact, there is an increase in cases of wintering not only in the south of the continent, but there is also a progression towards the north.

The subspecies leucocephala of the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava is endemic to the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion (Central Asia). The occurrence of leucocephala is associated with saline water bodies and solonchak habitats. Its distribution, especially outside the breeding season, is still uncertain. The aim of this work is to better define the breeding range, migratory movements, and the wintering range of this subspecies and provide guidance to distinguish whiteheaded intraspecific hybrids from the true leucocephala subspecies. The reproductive range of leucocephala is concentrated near lakes and wetlands in the Great Lakes Depression (north-west Mongolia) and in the flat southern part of the Tuva Republic (Russian Federation). The small population uses two separate areas for wintering: the eastern equatorial Africa reached through the Great Rift Valley Flyway and the Indian subcontinent reached along a route that bypasses the great belt of mountains and plateaus of central Asia to the west.

Book review: "Atlas of breeding birds of the European part of Russia" by Mikhail V. Kalyakin & Olga V. Voltzit (eds.)

The breeding range, the migratory movements, and the wintering range of the yellow-headed wagtail, called Parus luteus from Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin (now Motacilla flava lutea, or Motacilla lutea for some authors), has always been described in very general terms. Some authors pointed out that a modern and detailed map with the real distribution of the lutea is lacking, especially for evaluating the overlap of breeding ranges with other subspecies of Motacilla flava. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap in information by drawing up an updated map of the breeding range, as well as the wintering range and the migratory movements followed by this wagtail. These same aspects are also considered in perspective terms from 1851 to 2018 in order to assess any changes that have occurred over time. This study is based on data obtained from the consultation of 672 bibliographic sources, 40 travel reports, databases (including 6 relating to museum collections), and some websites. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the breeding range of the lutea is located within the area of the Eurasian steppe and forest-steppe with the greatest abundance occurring in two areas in European Russia: the southern one in the floodplain of the Volga River and the northern one in the floodplain of the Kama River. Similarly to what is happening for the subspecies cinereocapilla and feldegg, from the end of the 20th century the lutea is extending its breeding range west and north. The advancement of the lutea to the western and northern regions of the European portion of Russia became possible due to the westward and northern advancement of key plant communities and food supply facilities of this bird. The lutea mainly uses two migratory routes: the Great Rift Valley Flyway and the Central Asian Flyway. The first is used by birds that nest in European Russia and western Kazakhstan to reach Africa, while the second is probably only used by the minority portion of the population that is present in the central and eastern part of Kazakhstan and in the Asian portion of Russia to reach India and Sri Lanka. Starting from the 21st century, the passage of birds towards north of the Black Sea seems to intensify. East Africa is the main wintering area of the lutea, but starting from the last decades of the 20th century, a small part of the birds traveling towards Africa interrupt their migratory journey and wintering in the Arabian Peninsula.

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Over the past few centuries, some subspecies of the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava have shown changes in their reproductive ranges. The aim of this research is to verify if changes have occurred also in the wintering range of the species in Africa and Europe from 1848 to 2017. The data, collected through the consultation of over 840 bibliographic sources, 184 travel reports, 38 databases (including 25 relating to museum collections) and some website, shows an expansion of the wintering range to the north. The analysis is also extended to the single subspecies (flava, iberiae, cinereocapilla, flavissima, thunbergi, pygmaea, feldegg, beema, lutea, leucocephala). The factors that can affect the conservation of the species during wintering are examined and the oversummering range of Motacilla flava in sub-Saharan Africa is also discussed.

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The Black-headed Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava feldegg) has shown a clear tendency to expand its breeding range in the period 1830-2015, with an accentuation of the phenomenon during the second half of the twentieth century. Expansion northwards has been favoured by climate change and is characterized by alternating phases of jump dispersal and subsequent diffusion within the limits thus achieved. In the Balkans and in western Europe, jump dispersal occurred mainly in the late nineteenth century and mid-twentieth century, allowing the subspecies to reach the 48th parallel north. In the eastern portion of its breeding range, however, jump dispersal mainly took place in the last decades of the twentieth century and in the early part of the twenty-first century. In Europe (especially in the oriental sector) and in Asia, the northern edge of the range is defined with good approximation by the 20°C isothermal of July. In Europe, there has been a shift in its distribution range to the west and the establishment of a new, progressively more import migration route leading the subspecies from Africa to Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar. Concurrently, more and more sightings of the Black-headed Yellow Wagtail have been reported in northern European countries. In the Middle East, expansion to the southwest in Syria, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan has diffusive characteristics and exploits almost exclusively natural environments. In contrast, nesting in the southernmost parts of the Arabian Peninsula is determined by human activity, in particular by the irrigation of fields for the production of fodder, demonstrating the potential of the subspecies to expand further south. In this case, the limiting factor is certainly the lack of a suitable environment, due to the strong prevalence of a hyperarid climate. In central Asia, especially in the catchment area of the Aral Sea, the spread of feldegg has been favoured by the irrigation of the land for agricultural purposes. In the far eastern edge of its distribution range, no particular expansive or recessive movements have been observed.

[The paper shows the evolution of the breeding distribution of the Ashy-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava cinereocapilla in the period 1820-2014. Until 1880, the subspecies nested along the coast north and east of the Adriatic Sea, with some settlements (probably of poor numerical consistency) located in suitable areas of Tuscany, Sicily and Provence; after 1880 it was observed to appear regularly in the Po Valley during migration, and afterwards to occupy the area widely as a breeder. During the nineteenth century the Po Valley underwent major transformation processes with the consequent disruption of ancient agricultural rotations, and an increase of 1°C in the average temperature was also recorded in the area. Out of all the changes that occurred, besides the abundant availability of water, the biotic factor that probably favored the expansion of the subspecies in the Po valley the most is the increase in livestock and the consequent increase in the meadowlands: the first mowing of grass coincides temporally with the hatching of yellow wagtails (often nesting in neighboring fields of wheat), offering them the opportunity to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of foraging on the open ground, with likely benefits for the reproductive success. In the first half of the twentieth century the Ashy-headed Wagtail completed the occupation of the Po Valley, and in the late 1940 a new phase began, during which it settled in new areas in central and southern Italy and Sardinia, extending its distribution area in southern France; but, above all, appearing with increasing frequency and regularity during migrations north of the Alps. These northward shifts later materialized in the settlement of several reproductive groups in France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, always along basins of rivers or near lakes. Water seems to be the catalyst for the presence of the subspecies. This further expansion phase has probably been favored by climate changes, and in particular by the rise in temperature in the Greater Alpine Region. Favoured by this situation, the subspecies has also colonized mountain areas: in France up to 350 m.a.s.l. in the department of Isère, in Switzerland up to 1700-1800 m.a.s.l. in the Upper Engadine, in Germany up to 880 m.a.s.l. at Ammer and Grunt lakes, in Austria up to 960 m.a.s.l. in Hochfilzen and in Bosnia-Herzegovina up to 720 m.a.s.l. in the plain of Livanjsko. In the Italian Alps it reached the altitude of about 900 m.a.s.l. in Venosta Valley and up to 1000 m.a.s.l. in central Apennines. Since the last decades of the twentieth century nestings have been recorded in Spain. Instead, the breeding of the subspecies in Maghreb is still uncertain.]

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