Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 1953 |
Authors: | Moreau, RE |
Journal: | Ibis |
Volume: | 95 |
Issue: | 2 |
Date Published: | 1953 |
ISBN Number: | 1474-919X |
Keywords: | Algeria, Coturnix, Coturnix coturnix, Delichon, Delichon urbicum, Erithacus, Erithacus rubecula, France, Gibraltar, Gruidae, Grus, Grus grus, Hirundinidae, Hirundo, Hirundo rustica, Ionian Sea, Muscicapidae, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Streptopelia turtur, Sylviidae |
Abstract: | SUMMARY.* 1The enormous proportion of migrants that must pass undetected is stressed both on statistical grounds and on certain features of the records. * 2There is no evidence for any important concentration of migrants on the short crossings, by the Straits of Gibraltar, Sicily or the Bosphorus, except for soaring birds at the first and last of these. * 3These birds migrate at the Bosphorus using thermals, but only up to about 14.00 (not, as at Suez, also during the afternoon); while at the Straits of Gibraltar they migrate against winds, often strong. * 4Numerous species cross regularly the widest part of the Mediterranean, between 16′ and 20′ E., over the Ionian Sea, where the north-south distances are 430–800 miles. There is less evidence for crossing of the other widest stretch, France-Algeria, 430 miles. * 5The fact that the longest crossings are freely used and that most species do not concentrate on the shortest crossings indicates general broad-front movement irrespective of obstacles. * 6Occurrences of groups and species are summarized and some comparisons are made. Points of interest include:— * (a) Harriers are more often seen at sea than other big raptors. * (b) The western cranes appear to concentrate on short crossings much more than the eastern do. * (c) The movements of Quail and Turtle Doves are of special interest. * (d) More Swallows are seen, both at sea and coasting, than any other birds, and many times more than House-martins. * (e) Common Redstarts and Robins have been recorded at sea surprisingly often, especially by comparison with the Sylviidae. * (f) Anatidae and Limicolae are almost unknown at sea. * 7The leading published references to migration in the countries in the Mediterranean area are summarized in an appendix. |
URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1953.tb00692.x |
Short Title: | Ibis |
Taxonomic name:
Coturnix (Birds), Coturnix coturnix (Birds), Delichon (Birds), Delichon urbicum (Birds), Erithacus (Birds), Erithacus rubecula (Birds), Gruidae (Birds), Grus (Birds), Grus grus (Birds), Hirundinidae (Birds), Hirundo (Birds), Hirundo rustica (Birds), Hirundo rustica (Birds), Muscicapidae (Birds), Phoenicurus phoenicurus (Birds), Streptopelia turtur (Birds), Sylviidae (Birds)