Fenologia, uso dello spazio e distribuzione del Nibbio bruno Milvus migrans nella Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano (Italia centrale)

Car transects were used for three years (2006-2008) to study the phenology, habitat use and distribution of the Black Kite in the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano. The species colonized the area from early March and its density progressively increased until early August. Afterwards, the Black Kite left the breeding areas and migratory individuals were scarcely observed in September. No more than 20 % of the overall Estate was regularly used for breeding and feeding. No significant variation in the density of the main breeding colony was observed during the study period, but the occupancy of marginal areas by solitary pairs appeared more variable. Besides areas surrounding the breeding sites, feeding Black Kites also explored the northern edge of the Estate, as well as the eastern boundary with the Decima-Malafede Natural Reserve and other grassland ecosystems within the Estate.