Last year during spring break I had the amazing opportunity to visit the island of Ventotene in Italy with a small group of other students and animal lovers.
This 2 days trip was organized by the LIPU (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli) and was intended to give a general idea of migratory behavior and patterns in birds and provide us with some knowledge and practice on how to carry out counts and studies on migratory birds in the area.
Ventotene was chosen as destination for this workshop/field trip for its significance as a crucial stop for migratory birds flying over Italy and for its convenience both in distance and cost.
Day 1.
The 1st day started with a lecture on migration and migratory patterns of birds from Europe to Africa and vice versa (with an emphasis on raptors) and the importance of the island as a resting point during their migration.
We were also informed about how the scientists and staff of the organization study and count the birds at this particular stopping point and why these annual checks are important.
At the end of the lecture we had a small lunch break before moving on with the program for the day. We then got ready to go hiking on a path going up the volcanic island with a pair of binoculars each for a more practical look at what species could be encountered on the island.
The most abundant species spotted was the European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), but a wide variety of marine and wading birds were also seen, including few large grey herons (Ardea cinerea) and few species of ducks.
During the night we were also able to hear the call of some shearwaters (possibly the Mediterranean or Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan) with their raucous cackling high pitched calls, used to find their nest and chicks in the colonies.
Day 2.
The second day we were given a second lecture introducing the plan for the rest of the day and giving us some information on what scientists use to study the effect on migration on the birds, on how to identify the individuals with the catch and release method and how they study the welfare of the bird populations by studying the fitness of the caught birds (e.g. fat layer and plumage conditions during migration).
After the lectured we joined the team of scientists for our final activity and helped them in taking some of the parameters for the birds that had been caught before releasing them back into the wild.
I was fascinated by the process and even more captivated when we caught one of the most peculiar and stunning birds found in Italy: a Eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus).
Ph. Michel Idre
Conclusion
I was stunned by the possibility of doing something like this as a career and I will most certainly consider the possibility of going for a job that allows me this kind of important work in direct contact with the wildlife.
Wild Nature 