A vanishing raptor in a Mediterranean island: an updated picture of Red kite (<em>Milvus milvus</em>) in Sardinia, Italy

Abstract

In the 19th century, Red kite (Milvus milvus) was very common and widespread in Sardinia, but in the mid-900 an important decline occurred. Since the 1970s the species has been studied more continuously, but in recent years the published data seem contradictory. In 2018-2020, authors carried out specific research to collect data on the population of the Red kite in Sardinia exploring both the historical range of the species and areas where the species was reported in the past. In 2018-2020, we estimated 10-13 breeding pairs in an area of about 3,440 km2 located in the north west of Sardinia. As regard wintering, we estimated 30-40 birds in winters 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, whereas 90-110 birds were counted in winter 2020-2021.

Satellite images reveal major discrepancies between mapped and operating wind turbines in a hotspot of wind energy development

“…332-378 Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) [18] and the last Italian declining population of Little Bustards (Tetrax tetrax) [19] , two species which are prone to collide with wind turbines due to their visual field [20] . Moreover, Sardinia hosts the critically endangered endemic Sardinian Long-eared Bat (Plecotus sardus) [21] , a decreasing population of red kite (Milvus milvus) [22] , a small reintroduced population of Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) [23] and the endemic Corsican finch (Carduelis corsicana).…”