First evidence by satellite telemetry of lanner falcon's falco biarmicus feldeggii natal dispersal outside sicily, and a review of existing data

Abstract

The Italian population of the threatened European Lanner Falcon is mainly sedentary. Thanks to satellite telemetry, we recorded the first evidence on natal dispersal of a juvenile male (Falc36) outside Sicily. Falc36 was deployed with a GPS-GSM device in May 2017, after an initial phase of movements close to the natal cliff and of short wandering in Sicily crossed the Messina Strait in mid July and arrived in Apulia (south Italy). There we were able to follow his displacements and settling until the end of November when the transmitter broke up. Falc36 used mainly open habitats composed of arable field and heterogeneous agricultural areas firstly north of Altamura and Gravina, and from late August in the Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano-Candela area. He preferentially used single trees to spend the night in arable plots. We reviewed the existing information on species’ records at the main Italian migratory watch-points to put in context the Falc36’s dispersal.