Volume 39 (2018): Issue 176-177 (November 2018)

The Narta Lagoon (59 km²) is one of the largest and most important coastal wetlands for migratory and wintering waterbirds in Albania. However, the breeding bird fauna of the site is still poorly studied. The current work aims to broaden the knowledge on the list of breeding bird species, their numbers, distribution and threats in the zone (with a focus on waterbirds). Relevant information for spring migrants is also provided. The survey consisted of two field visits in April and May 2016. The entire wetland area was covered and all its habitats were visited. In total, 136 bird species were observed. The total number of breeding birds was estimated at 6,400 pairs of 85 species. The most abundant breeders were the Little Tern Sternula albifrons with 377 breeding pairs (bp), Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta with 121 bp, and Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus with 96 bp. In total, 3,461 individuals belonging to 80 species were recorded as non-breeders. At the species level, the most numerous were Kentish Plover with 1,100 individuals (ind.), Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis with 600 ind., Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus with 321 ind., Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna with 130 ind., Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus with 120 ind. and Dunlin Calidris alpina with 100 ind. Breeding birds assemblages within the main studied habitats (salinas, lagoon, pine forests, mixed farmland, rocky hills with olive trees, and grasslands with bushes near the coast) and threats (the most significant of which were illegal shooting, trapping and dangerous power grid) are also described. Recommendations for future bird-friendly management, appropriate conservation activities and eco-tourism in the area are made.

A total of 13 Red Kites Milvus milvus fitted with GPS/GSM telemetry loggers in central Europe were tracked in Serbia from 10 July 2014 until 31 March 2018. These birds remained in Serbia for 138 days (counted as number of one bird/one day stays). Red Kites occurred mostly in the Vojvodina Province (NW Serbia). They were registered most often in April and October, which corresponded to their spring and autumn migrations. It is possible that Red Kites occur in Serbia more often than formerly, and this could in future result in this threatened European raptor’s more frequently wintering and breeding within the country.

Migration poses a high risk to birds. Crossing of large bodies of water is especially demanding for land birds. One of the dangers faced by migrants are opportunistic predators like gulls. Most gulls Laridae are generalist predators with omnivorous diets. Attacking on migrating birds was investigated during ground observations of bird migration at Ada Island (S Montenegro) between 17 Mar and 10 Apr 2015. We recorded 20 attacks on 22 individuals of six species and on one unidentified passerine. In four instances gulls attacked birds of prey, in two Hoopoe Upupa epops and in 16 passerines. Except for two cases when small flocks of two birds were attacked, gulls attacked individuals migrating singly. Considering our data around one percent of passerines migrating during the day across the southern Adriatic Sea can expect to be attacked by gulls. This percentage can be as high as 9.5% for passerines migrating singly.

The article presents dietary habits of the Peregrine Falcon in the urban environment of Maribor. The diet was studied with an analysis of prey remnants at the nesting site. In October 2015, prey remnants were collected after the nesting in and around the nest built on top of the grain storage silo. Prey remnants, mostly bones and feathers, were sorted into body parts: skull with the beak, wings, and legs. Wings were the most numerous remnants with 41.7%, followed by legs and skulls with 28.1% each. In total, 96 units of prey were found, belonging to five different species of birds. The number of specimens and biomass was dominated by Feral Pigeons Columba livia domestica with 64.6% in number and 89.5% in prey biomass. The second most frequent prey of falcons were Starlings Sturnus vulgaris.

For evaluating the current status of Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola in Montenegro, all available sightings were compiled from published and unpublished personal sources. A hitherto hardly known record of the species for the country by a holiday group of British birdwatchers, under the guidance of renowned ornithologist Bob Scott (1938–2009), dates from May 1982. The sighting in the Ulcinj Salina, in 1982, constitutes the first record of Citrine Wagtail in Montenegro and in the Western Balkans. More than 30 years later the species was sighted, between 2013 and 2017, again in the Ulcinj Salina (May 2013, Mar 2016, Nov 2017) and in the former Tivat Salina (Apr 2014). Hence, five observations are currently on record for Montenegro.