Italian Apennines-group

single groups

Study area: Italian Apennines, in particular all the major mountains of Marche, Abruzzo and Lazio, where the species is present

The project plans to launch a monitoring in the mountains, involving institutional partners (Sibillini National Park, Gran Sasso National Park, Majella National Park, Abruzzo Lazio Molise National Park, Velino Regional Park, Simbruini Regional Park, Monti Reatini) in order to understand climate change effects on the snowfinch Apennines population

Start of the monitoring activities on Gran Sasso massif (Abruzzo region): 2006

•The evaluation of long-term trend of population, with the counting of flocks in autumn;

•Areas monitored on the massif of Gran Sasso over 2000 meters:

(Monte S. Franco 2132 m.slm., Monte Jenca 2208 m.slm., Pizzo di Camarda 2332 m.slm., Monte Corvo 2623 m.slm., Pizzo Intermesoli 2635 m.slm., Pizzo Cefalone 2533 m.slm., Monte Portella 2385 m.slm., Monte Aquila 2494 m.slm., Corno Grande 2912 m.slm., Corno Piccolo 2655 m.slm., Monte Brancastello 2385 m.slm., Monte Prena 2561 m.slm., Monte Camicia 2564 m.slm., Monte Tremoggia 2331 m.slm.)

Main goals of the activities:

•Estimation of Apennine population, extending the autumn counting of flocks to other massifs in the Apennines;

•Habitat selection during reproduction, with the monitoring of the effects of climate change in short and long term period;

•Retrieval of climatic data in the study area. In particular, snow cover areas and temperature values;

Start of ringing activities on Gran Sasso massif (Abruzzo region): June 2003

Ringing and field work activity: whole year monitoring, with most fieldwork between March and September

Main goals of the activities:

•Dispersion control in the Apennine mountains and interactions among isolated groups of snowfinch on the highest peaks through colour rings projects;

•Yearly monitoring of reproductive output using nest boxes;

•Site fidelity both for adults and young birds with capture-recapture methodology and with colour ring readings;

•Survival rate using capture-recapture methodology and colour ring readings;

Ringing activity results:

Total number of Snow Finches ringed on the Gran Sasso Massif, including all captures and recaptures, between 2003 al 2016: 887;

Monitoring of reproductive biology: Started in 2003 with nest boxes;

Colour ring project:

Started in 2009 in the Gran Sasso Massif (Apennines monitoring);

White PVC colour rings with 3 black digits: 1 letter and 2 numbers;

Up to 2016, 246 Snow Finches ringed with colour rings;

European coordination of colour rings: http://www.cr-birding.org/node/2737

Coordinator of the Italian Apennines, Group

• Eliseo Strinella - "Reparto Biodiversità L'Aquila"

• Marta De Paulis - "Reparto Biodiversità L'Aquila"

Researchers involved Group (Italian Apennines)

• Adriano De Faveri - Museum ISPRA ex INFS, Ozzano Emilia, Italy

• Antonio Antonucci - "Majella" National Park , Wildlife Research Centre

• Bruno Massa - University of Palermo

• Carlo Artese - "Gran Sasso Laga" National Park, sector Biodiversity

• Carlo Catoni - Ornis Italica, Rome - Italy

• Emiliano De Santis - "Monti Simbruini" Natural Regional Park

• Enzo Savo - SROPU Roman observation station and bird protection

• Fernando Spina - Italian Bird Ringing Centre "ISPRA ex INFS, Ozzano Emilia"

• Filomena Ricci - "Gole del Sagittario" Natural Reserve

• Francesco Petretti - Snowfinch Ornithological Group Onlus

• Fulvio Fraticelli - SROPU Roman observation station and bird protection

• Giorgio Lalli - Snowfinch Ornithological Group Onlus

• Mario Posillico - Reparto Biodiversità Castel Di Sangro

• Mirko Di Marzio - Snowfinch Ornithological Group Onlus

• Nicoletta Riganelli - "Gran Sasso Laga" National Park, sector Biodiversity

• Rita Iorio - Snowfinch Ornithological Group Onlus

• Simone Di Benedetto - Snowfinch Ornithological Group Onlus

• Simone Pirrello - Italian Bird Ringing Centre "ISPRA ex INFS, Ozzano Emilia"

• Stefano De Ritis - Snowfinch Ornithological Group Onlus

Publications:

• María del Mar Delgado, Raphaël Arlettaz, Chiara Bettega, Mattia Brambilla, Miguel de Gabriel Hernando, Antonio España, Ángel Fernández-González, Ángel Fernández-Martín, Juan Antonio Gil, Sergio Hernández-Gómez, Paola Laiolo, Jaime Resano-Mayor, José Ramón Obeso, Paolo Pedrini, Isabel Roa-Álvarez, Christian Schano, Davide Scridel, Eliseo Strinella, Ignasi Toranzo and Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt (2021). "Spatio-temporal variation in the wintering associations of an alpine bird". The Royal Society. Collection. Proc. R. B 288:20210690 - doi.org:101098/rspb.2021.0690

• Jaime Resano-Mayor, Chiara Bettega, María del Mar Delgado, Angel Fernandez-Martín, Sergio Hernandez-Gomez, Ignasi Toranzo, Antonio Espana, Miguel de Gabriel, Isabel Roa-Alvarez, Juan Antonio Gil, Eliseo Strinella, Keith A. Hobson, Raphael Arlettaz (2020) Partial migration of White-winged snowfinches is correlated with winter weather conditions: Global Ecology and Conservation 24 (2020) e01346.

• Eliseo Strinella, Davide Scridel, Mattia Brambilla Christian Schano & Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt (2020) Potential sex-dependent efects of weather on apparent survival of a high-elevation specialist: (2020) Scientific Reports 10:8386.

• Strinella Eliseo, Pirrello Simone, Artese Carlo, De Faveri Adriano 2016. Seasonal variation in wing length and body mass in the Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe at the Gran Sasso area, Avocetta 40: 11-16 (2016)

• Jaime Resano-Mayor, Angel Fernandez-Martın, Sergio Hernandez-Gomez, Ignasi Toranzo, Antonio Espana, Juan Antonio Gil, Miguel de Gabriel, Isabel Roa-Alvarez, Eliseo Strinella, Keith A. Hobson, Gerald Heckel, Raphael Arlettaz 2016. Integrating genetic and stable isotope analyses to infer the population structure of the White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis in Western Europe, 2016 J Ornithol DOI 10.1007/s10336-016-1413-8

• Strinella Eliseo, De Faveri Adriano, Artese Carlo, Catoni Carlo 2015. Timing and duration of moult in relation to weather conditions in four montane passerine species at the Gran Sasso, Central Italy, Ringing & Migration, 2015 Vol. 30, No. 2, 67–74

• Filomena Ricci, Alessandro Ammann, Carlo Artese, Valentina Barone, Mauro Bernoni, Riccardo Caldoni, Maurizio Cardelli, Augusto De Sanctis, Piercarlo Di Giambattista, Mirko Di Marzio, Francesco Di Perna, Eugenio Di Zenobio, Luisa Giannangeli, Roberto Gildi, Valentina Leardi, Marinella Miglio, Cristian Moscone, Vanessa Ponziani, Bruno Santucci, Eliseo Strinella, Susana Tapia, Piera Vianale Il Fringuello alpino (Montifringilla nivalis) nei massicci montuosi centro-appenninici: indicazioni sulle preferenze ambientali in periodo riproduttivo - (poster): XVIII Convegno Italiano di Ornitologia Caramanico Terme PE 17-20 settembre 2015

• Strinella Eliseo, Artese Carlo 2014. La check-list degli uccelli dell’Altopiano di Campo Imperatore nel Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga - Picus 40 (78): 130-138, 2014

• Strinella Eliseo 2014. L’Utilizzo degli anelli colorati nei passeriformi degli ambienti d’alta del Parco nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga - il progetto Euring Oenante Network - Eon Italia C.N.I. - ISPRA; (Comunicazione orale) XI Convegno Nazionale degli Inanellatori Italiani (Gorizia) 05-07 Dicembre 2014.

• Strinella Eliseo, Catoni Carlo, De Faveri Adriano, & Artese Carlo 2013. Ageing and sexing of the snow finch Montifringilla nivalis - Avocetta 37: 9-14 (2013)

• Strinella Eliseo, Pirrello Simone, Catoni Carlo, De Faveri Adriano, Artese Carlo, Savo Enzo 2012. Analisi di studio del Culbianco Oenanthe oenanthe nella Stazione Ornitologica d’Alta Quota del Gran Sasso, prospettive future; (Comunicazione orale) XI Convegno Nazionale degli Inanellatori Italiani Gaeta (Latina) 24-26 febbraio 2012

• Strinella Eliseo, Sorace Alberto, Lalli Giorgio, Feriozzi Daniele, Savo Enzo 2011. Analisi preliminare dei Passeriformi nidificanti in praterie d’altitudine appenniniche del Gran Sasso (AQ) - Alula XVIII (1-2): 101-104 (2011).

• Strinella Eliseo, Vianale Piera, Pirrello Simone, & Artese Carlo 2011. Biologia riproduttiva del Fringuello alpino Montifringilla nivalis nel Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga (AQ) - Alula XVIII (1-2): 95-100 (2011)

• Strinella Eliseo, Catoni Carlo, De Faveri Adriano, and Artese Carlo 2011. Biometrics, sexing and moulting of Snow Finch Montifringilla nivalis in Central Italy - Ringing & Migration (2011) 26, 1–8.

• Strinella Eliseo 2009. Studio della dispersione del Fringuello alpino Montifringilla nivalis attraverso l’uso di anelli colorati - Alula XVI (1-2): 798-800 (2009)

• Strinella Eliseo 2008. L’inanellamento degli uccelli a scopo scientifico in alta quota, nella stazione ornitologica del Gran Sasso: resoconto dei quattro anni di attività; (Comunicazione orale) X Convegno Nazionale degli Inanellatori Italiani Montesilvano (Pescara) 02-03 Febbraio 2008

• Strinella Eliseo & Artese Carlo 2008. Stima della popolazione autunnale di Fringuello alpino Montifringilla nivalis nel Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti Della Laga - Alula XV (1-2): 201-206 (2008)

• Strinella Eliseo, Ricci Filomena & Vianale Piera 2007. Uso dell’habitat nel Fringuello alpino Montifringilla nivalis in periodo riproduttivo in un’area sub-Antropizzata: Gran Sasso-Abruzzo - Alula XIV (1-2): 107-114 (2007)