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Hellenic Ornithological Society, photo: Th.Kominos
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Antikythira Bird Observatory

Although bird migration is a feature found in almost every island of the Mediterranean, few areas actually fulfill all the requirements for the creation of a Bird Observatory, The island of Antikythira is one of the top 10-15 sites for this purpose.

Due to its geographical position and certain features - a longitudinal island, with a north to south direction and very few human activities - Antikythira qualify as an ideal site for population monitoring of the large birds of prey (buzzards, harriers, eagles etc) that pass through the Peloponnese and Crete, but also for the study of small birds' migration by direct observation or ringing.

Therefore, a Bird Observatory in Antikythira can cover both issues, a unique fact in the Mediterranean. Moreover, Antikythira hosts one of the largest populations of Eleonora's Falcons (Falco eleonorae) in the world, adding more to the scientific research. The concentration of so many small bird-feeding falcons is, of course, not a coincidence...
Raptor Migration Monitoring
The Antikythira Bird Observatory does a systematic recording of all birds of prey passing through Antikythira and an examination of all the parameters that affect through-passage.
 
Bird Ringing

Ringing is a scientific method of bird migration monitoring. This action includes catching of birds and marking them with metal rings put in the bird's leg.
Eleonora's Falcon colony monitoring
Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) is a separate activity of ABO, as Antikythira host a significant portion of the global population of this species. Action is taken through a LIFE-Nature project implemented by HOS and its partners.
 

Latest posts from the ABO blog
Bird Ringing on Antikythira

 An experience ringer is wanted to be able to be in charge of the ringing for the autumn period of 2010 (25 of August to end of October). Some daily allowance will be provided as well as accommodation and food.Information about the observatory can be found at Observatory´s home page http://www.ornithologiki.gr/en/osa/index.php. Expected species for the autumn [...]

Volunteers!

  We are grateful to Stephen, Roger, Helen, Theo, Jiannis, Theodoroula, Nikos, Dirk and Maria for their help… Hope to see some of the blog followers on Antikythira during one of the following seasons.                                   

Species count.

 More than 3300 birds were ringed this season out of more than 60 species. Species trapped:Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus,Συκοφάγος), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos, Τσίχλα), Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia, Τσιχλαηδόνι), Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos, Αηδόνι), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula, Κοκκινολαίμης), Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe, Σταχτοπετρόκλης), Black-eared Wheatear(Oenanthe hispanica, Ασπροκωλίνα), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Φοινίκουρος), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, Σταυλοχελίδονο), House Martin (Delichon urbicum, Λευκοχελίδονο), Sand Martin [...]

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