Citizen science data have already been used to effectively address questions regarding migration, a fundamental stage in the life history of birds. In this study, we use data from eBird and from 3 additional regional citizen science databases to describe the migration routes and timing of the red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus in the Mediterranean region across 8 years (2010–2017). We further examine the seasonal and yearly variation in migration patterns and explore sites used during the species migration. Our results suggest that the autumn passage is spatially less variable and temporally more consistent among years than in spring and that birds migrate faster in spring than in autumn. The species seems to be more prevalent along the Central Mediterranean during spring migration, probably as a result of the clockwise loop migration that red-footed falcons perform. There was a high variation in annual median migration dates for both seasons as well as in migration routes across years and seasons. Higher variation was exhibited in the longitudinal component thus indicating flexibility in migration routes. In addition, our results showed the species’ preference for lowlands covered with cropland and mosaics of cropland and natural vegetation as stopover sites during migration. Stopover areas predicted from our distribution modeling highlight the importance of the Mediterranean islands as stopover sites for sea-crossing raptors, such as the red-footed falcon. This study is the first to provide a broad-scale spatiotemporal perspective on the species migration across seasons, years and flyways and demonstrates how citizen science data can inform future monitoring and conservation strategies.

The National Sports Academy “V. Levski” – the sports university of Bulgaria, has almost 80 years of history and state accreditation for the education of coaches in more than 76 sports, physical education teachers, kinesitherapy, and sport animation specialists. The course program includes a total of 12 hours of lectures, and 5 hours of practical seminars per day every day. The aim of our research was to study the influence of the “Snow Sports” course on the students from the National Sports Academy “V. Levski”, in terms of its social, psychological, physiological, training, and educational impact. Results: The research includes an inquiry with students who had already completed their education in the “Snow Sports” course, aged between 19 - 25. The greater part of them had no preliminary experience in Snow Sports, and they made their first steps in skiing and snowboarding at the course. However, after finishing the course, a great number of them chose to continue with additional education in snow sports. The students gave a positive self-evaluation of their physical and mental health after the end of the course, and they reported an improvement in their general well-being. The study also takes into account the acquired knowledge and skills in snow sports, in safety rules, and in environmental protection requirements. As a result, students gain confidence that they have developed new training and leadership qualities, giving them the opportunity to practice another new profession. On the basis of these results, we have reasons to assume, that this form of education in snow sports has a multi-aspectual impact on the students. This assumption strengthens our conviction, that snow sports could have a wide application, not only in the education and training of young people but also in their socialization.

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