Volunteering at Antikythira

We are searching for ringers and observers to join us as volunteers and help us carry out our bird ringing and raptor monitoring campaign for the spring migration season of 2012 (from March 25^th up to May 25^th)

Information about the accommodation, the volunteers’ tasks, how to get there, and other frequently asked questions can be found here: FAQ 

Species and numbers of birds  ringed during last years’s bird ringing campaign can be found at  ABO’s Bird Ringing Newsletter Vol.4

Agostini N, Lucia G, Mellone U, Panuccio M, Von Hardenberg J, Evangelidis A, Kominos T (2011) Loop migration of adult European Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus Linnaeus, 1758) through the Central-Eastern Mediterranean. Italian Journal of Zoology. DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2011.623245

Despite long periods of bad weather we had an enjoyable ringing season with over 700 birds ringed in a month. A big thank you goes to all ringers and field assistants who have given their valuable help and contributed to create such a nice working atmosphere: Ulla, Pedro, Manolia, Ruben el Negro, Carlos, Victoria, Giannis T., Giannis K., Joao and Thekla. It was also nice to have the company and collaboration of Stig the photographer and Costas, Satoshi and Suzuki,  the film crew from Japan.

A month has already passed since we first set our nets in Antikythira for this  Autumn season 2011 and today was our last day of ringing.  This morning we caught 16 birds of 6 different species. We ringed European Robin (Erithacus rubecula, Κοκκινολαίμης), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos, Κοινή Τσίχλα), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla, Μαυροσκούφης), and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva, Νανομυγοχάφτης). The last bird to be ringed for this season was a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, Σταυλοχελίδονο – photo 1^st year bird).

We had a good morning ringing with 35 birds caught of 8 different species. We also had an unexpected help by a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus, Κοινό Ξεφτέρι) who chased a flock of   Spanish Sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis, Χωραφοσπουργίτης – photo adult male) in our nets. We also ringed European Robin (Erithacus rubecula, Κοκκινολαίμης), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Κοινός Φοινίκουρος), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos, Κοινή Τσίχλα), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla, Μαυροσκούφης), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus, Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης) and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva, Νανομυγοχάφτης).

Another very good day of ringing with even more birds than yesterday. We caught 61 birds of 11 different species. We ringed Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis, Δεντροκελάδα - photo), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula, Κοκκινολαίμης), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Κοινός Φοινίκουρος), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos, Κοινή Τσίχλα), Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis, Θαμνοτσιροβάκος), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla, Μαυροσκούφης), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus, Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva, Νανομυγοχάφτης) and Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio, Αετομάχος).

Today was the best day so far, with many birds flying in to the nets, keeping the ringing team constantly busy. This morning we caught 56 birds of 11 species: Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis, Δεντροκελάδα), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula, Κοκκινολαίμης), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Κοινός Φοινίκουρος), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos, Κοινή Τσίχλα), Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris, Βαλτοποταμίδα), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla, Μαυροσκούφης), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus, Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης) and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva, Νανομυγοχάφτης). Beside these we also got a Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros, Καρβουνιάρης - photo). This species is a rather uncommon catch here in Antikythira, and judging by the lack of a wing panel, the extensive orange–red tinge on breast, belly and flanks and some measurements this individual possibly belongs to one of the eastern subspecies (phoenicuroides / rufiventris).

After many difficult days we finally had a full good morning of ringing. The number of birds is always quite low as we caught 22 birds of 7 species. The species we caught were: European Robin (Erithacus rubecula, Κοκκινολαίμης), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Κοινός Φοινίκουρος), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos, Κοινή Τσίχλα) Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla, Μαυροσκούφης), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus, Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva, Νανομυγοχάφτης). Among the Willow Warblers we caught today at least two were looking very grey in their under-parts (photo) showing us once again the extreme variability of this species

Our struggle against the “forces of nature” continues. After being defeated for many days by the wind, today we had to close our nets because of the rain. Nevertheless in a few hours work we caught 10 birds of 6 species. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula, Κοκκινολαίμης), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Κοινός Φοινίκουρος), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla, Μαυροσκούφης), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus, Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος) and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva, Νανομυγοχάφτης). We also got a Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos, Κοινή Τσίχλα – photo 1^st year bird ), a first for this Autumn season.