Emiliano Verza

• Associazione Culturale Naturalistica Sagittaria

Il presente studio prende in considerazione, per il periodo 2012-23, tutte le specie coloniali nidificanti in provincia di Rovigo appartenenti alle famiglie Threskiornithidae, Ardeidae e Phala-crocoracidae. Il numero complessivo di garzaie appare triplicato, con concentrazione nell'area del Delta del Po; la media di coppie nidificanti di Ardeidi è...

Il presente studio prende in considerazione, per il periodo 2012-23, tutte le specie coloniali nidificanti in provincia di Rovigo appartenenti alle famiglie Threskiornithidae, Ardeidae e Phala-crocoracidae. Il numero complessivo di garzaie appare triplicato, con concentrazione nell'area del Delta del Po; la media di coppie nidificanti di Ardeidi è...

Ornithological report for the year 2023 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning some vagrant or rare bird species, wintering or breeding in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include the first regional occurrence of Paddyfield Warbler, if accepted, the first report of Horned Lark this century,...

Ornithological report for the year 2022 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). We report in systematic order significant observations concerning vagrant or rare migrants, as well as wintering or breeding species, recorded in Veneto during 2022. The most interesting data include the first Italian record of Bonaparte’s Gull, the first regional occurrence i...

Monitoring waterbirds is fundamental to understand the health status of wetland habitats. However, this monitoring has to be conducted by means of reliable data collection that can provide accurate information on population trends. Usually, waterbird monitoring is difficult, as nesting grounds are usually located in inaccessible reedbed, and by eye...

The Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) breeds with a scattered distribution on an extensive nesting area, ranging from India and Afghanistan in the East to the Iberian Peninsula in the West, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. A number of habitats are used for breeding, such as sand-spits and beaches along coasts and islands of land-locke...

Ornithological report for the year 2021 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning some vagrant or rare bird species, as well as rare wintering or breeding occurrences in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include breeding records of Eurasian Spoonbill, African Sacred Ibis and Great White Egret, s...

In the last decade, the use of drones has proven to be the major innovation for studying various aspects of waterbird breeding biology, overcoming the environmental obstacles inherent in monitoring their breeding sites. The Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) represents an example of the aforementioned difficulties, since it nests in impenetrable ree...

Anche nel 2021 è stato effettuato il censimento delle garzaie del Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia e Trentino Alto Adige: con la presenza della spatola (15 coppie) e dell’ibis sacro (258 coppie) sono ora dodici le specie nidificanti, otto delle quali incluse nell’Allegato I della Direttiva 2009/147 Uccelli. Sono aumentati sia il numero di garzaie pres...

Monitoring populations of waterfowl can be a difficult task owing to their nest sites being difficult to access and the need to avoid disturbance to breeding birds. This study describes a new method for counting breeding Mute Swans Cygnus olor, across a large wetland in Italy, using satellite imagery from Google Earth. The results are compared agai...

We report the results of monitoring two species of Laridae, Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) and Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), collected during their colonization of the northern Po Delta (Province of Rovigo, NE Italy), in the years 2018-2021. Counts were conducted through both traditional ground surveys and drone flights. Both spec...

Some interesting data concerning vagrant or rare bird species, wintering or breeding in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include the first regional occurrence of Olive-backed Pipit, first regional breeding data of Sacred Ibis, sightings of very rare or irregular species like Lesser White-fronted Goose, Baillon’s Crake...

Survey of colonies of Ardeidae and Phalacrocoracidae in the Veneto region, year 2020.

We report on the recent establishment of a small breeding population of Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia occurring in the northern Po Delta and in the Lagoon of Venice in 2019-2021, obtained using drone flights. We found six pairs in 2019, ten pairs in 2020 and 15 pairs in 2021. Mean colony size was 4 ± 3 nests, without significant differenc...

Ornithological report for the year 2019 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning some vagrant or rare bird species, wintering or breeding in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include the occurrence of very rare or irregular species like Red-breasted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Bewick’s S...

Riassunto. Sono presentati i dati (2015-2018) relativi alle popolazioni nidificanti nel Delta del Po veneto (RO) di 16 specie di laro-limicoli, delle quali nove si riproducono con un numero di coppie superiore al 10% del totale stimato per l'Italia e tre di queste (beccaccia di mare Haematopus ostralegus, gabbiano corallino Ichthyaetus melanocephal...

Between 2001 and 2018 colonies of Gull-billed Tern were monitored in large wetland complexes of Veneto (lagoon of Venice and the Northern Po Delta) and Sardinia (western and southern) regions. Most of the colonies settled in man-made structures such as islets, levees, dams, located inside fish farms, fish ponds and salt pans. Laying took place arou...

During 2017 a comprehensive census of heron and cormorant colonies was carried out in the whole Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions (NE Italy). 162 colonies were monitored, with 7460 – 7979 pairs found. In Trentino Alto Adige there were 18 colonies, in the Veneto 127 and 17 in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Nine species were confi...

Ornithological report for the year 2018 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning some vagrant or rare bird species, wintering or breeding in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include the first regional records of Radde's Warbler and Red-flanked Bluetail, the occurrence of very rare species like...

Results of comparisons between drone- and ground conducted surveys of Purple Heron colonies in NE Italy.

Recent data and trends of Gull-billed Tern nesting in three Italian sites are presented.

La Sterna zampenere (Gelochelidon nilotica) era riportata nidificare in Italia con circa 550 coppie nel 2002, distribuite principalmente nelle zone umide costiere della Romagna, della Puglia e della Sardegna. Recentemente, la specie ha mostrato una chiara fase di espansione d’areale, colonizzando la parte veneta del Delta del Po e la Laguna di Vene...

[In 2008-2014 wader and seabird nesting pairs were censused along the 220-km long coastline of the NE Adriatic Sea, in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions (NE Italy). Fourteen species were regularly breeding, with an annual mean of 20,610 pairs (±1553, 1 SD). The most abundant species was the Yellow-legged Gull (about 13,400 pairs on avera...

Checklist of the birds of the province of Rovigo (NE Italy) updated until 31.12.2017. The first checklist of the birds of the province of Rovigo dates back to 1896, when Camillo Dal Fiume published "Contributo sull'Avifauna del Polesine", which listed 272 species for this area. In 2006 the Regional Park of the Po Delta published the "Checklist of t...

Sea turtle records along the Venetian coast-year 2015 (Reptilia, Testudines). Listed here are 141 records of sea turtles collected by the CTLV network along the coast of Veneto during 2015. Identified specimens resulted all belonging to Caretta caretta (n = 127). An additional 14 individuals were unidentified sea turtles or doubtful records.

Ornithological report for the year 2017 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning vagrant or rare species wintering, breeding or migrating in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include the first regional record of Sooty Shearwater, very rare species like Bewick's Swan, Black-winged Kite, Black Vu...

During 2017 a census was carried out of heron and cormorant colonies in the Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige. 145 colonies were monitored, with a total of between 6299-6818 pairs found; the average size of the colony was 45.2 pairs (+88.8, 1SD) while only 17 colonies had more than 100 pairs. In the province of Bolzano there were 8 colonies, in Trento...

Ornithological report for the year 2016 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding, migration and vagrancy in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include very rare species like Eastern Imperial Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Purple Sandpiper, Black-winged Pratincole, Saker Falcon an...

Ornithological report for the year 2015 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding, migration and vagrancy in Veneto are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include first regional sighting of Isabelline Shrike, very rare species like Bewick’s Swan, Little Bustard, Terek Sandpiper, Purple S...

Records of sea turtles in the Lagoon of Venice and along the Venetian coast - year 2013 (Reptilia, Testudines). It is reported the list of stranding and sighting records of sea turtles along the Venetian coast, collected by the local stranding network (CTLV) during 2013. Overall, 77 instances were recorded, 57 belonging to Caretta caretta, and 20 t...

Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding, migration and vagrancy in Veneto are given in system- atic order. The most interesting data include rst regional sightings of Ring-necked Duck and Paci c Golden Plover, very rare species like Ruddy Duck, Scopoli’s Shearwater, Pink-backed Pelican, Black Vulture, Pectoral Sandpiper, Terek Sandpipe...

Ornithological report for the year 2013 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematic order. The most interesting data include sightings of rare species like the Whooper Swan, Red-breasted Goose, Ruddy Duck, Western Reef Heron, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Eleonora’...

We present the population trend between 2000 and 2010 of eight waterbird species of conservation concern that breed in the Lagoon of Venice and Po Delta. There has been a huge increase for the populations of Phalacrocorax pygmeus and Haematopus ostralegus, whereas a general increase for those of Sternula albifrons and Sterna sandvicensis. In the st...

Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematic order. The most inter- esting data include the first regional records of the White-billed Diver and Pallas’s Leaf Warbler; sightings of rare species like Lesser White-fronted and Red-breasted Geese, Ruddy Duck, Scopoli’s Shearwater, Western Reef Heron, Eleono...

Negli anni 2009 e 2010 è stato condotto un censimento delle colonie di ardeidi coloniali presenti nel Veneto, dopo quello organizzato nel 1998-2000. Sono risultate presenti tutte le sette specie di ardeidi coloniali nidificanti in Italia, ossia nitticora, sgarza ciuffetto, airone guardabuoi, garzetta, airone bianco maggiore, airone cenerino ed airo...

Records of sea turtles in the Lagoon of Venice and along the Venetian coast - year 2011 (Reptilia, Testudines). Forty-seven records of strandings and sightings of sea turtles are reported, collected during the year 2011 along the Veneto coast. Recorded specimens (n = 52) belonged to Caretta caretta, with the exception of 21 individuals that could n...

In the decade 1997-2006 the upper Adriatic coastal wetlands (Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia) hosted relevant wintering waterbird numbers: between 295,567 (1997) up to 517,596 (2005), with an overall trend of increase. In the year 2000 this area held almost one third of total wintering waterbirds throughout Italy. Several species (eg. Great White...

Summary. Ornithological report for the year 2011 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematic order. The most inter-esting data include first regional record of Pectoral Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs; winter presence of Tundra Swan, Lesser White-fronted, Barnacle, Bran...

In the decade 1997-2006 the upper Adriatic coastal wetlands (Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia) hosted relevant wintering waterbird numbers: between 295,567 (1997) up to 517,596 (2005), with an overall trend of increase. In the year 2000 this area held almost one third of total wintering waterbirds throughout Italy. Several species (eg. Great White...

Significative records concerning bird wintering, breeding and migration in 2010 are given in systematic order. The most interesting records include the presence of a Hume’s Warbler until the end of April (first reported at the end of 2009) and of a Black-shouldered Kite (already accepted by COI); occasional migrating raptors such as Lesser Spotted...

Trends of seven species of herons breeding in the period 1998-2010 in the Veneto region are presented. It was observed a strong increase of Grey Heron (+10.1% per year) and Cattle Egret (+ 41.3%) populations, a stable situation of the Squacco Heron (+ 1.5%) and an uncertain trend of the Night Heron (-3.2%) population. Moreover, there was a moderate...

Ornithological report for the year 2009 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematical order. Most notable data sightings the occurrence of a Hume’s Leaf Warbler near Venice, winter invasion of Waxwings, observations of rare raptors like Lammergeier, Lanner, Saker and El...

Records of sea turtles in the Lagoon of Venice and along the Venetian coast – Year 2009 (Reptilia, Testudines). The number of marine turtle strandings occurred in 2009 has been especially high as compared to previous years. In addition, on top of usual stranding causes, i.e.: fisheries operation by-catching and impact with motorboats, an unusually...

Ornithological report for the year 2008 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematical order. The most relevant data include the occurrence of breeding Greater Flamingo and the observations of Greater Spotted Eagle, Red-necked Phalarope, Audouin’s Gull, Lesser Spotted Wo...

Records of sea turtles in the Lagoon of Venice and along the Venetian coast – year 2008 (Reptilia, Testudines). Reported here are the marine turtle specimens recorded along the Venetian coasts during 2008, which include offshore sightings, coastal strandings and unintentional by-catches. Altogether, 24 specimens were detected, among which 20 can be...

Records of sea turtles in the Lagoon of Venice and along the Venetian coast – year 2007 (Reptilia, Testudines). It is reported a list of the marine turtles recorded along the Venetian coasts during 2007. Included are offshore sightings, coastal strandings and unintentional by-catches. Records come from researchers, untrained casual observers, terri...

Ornithological report for the year 2007 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematical order. The most relevant data include the occurence of breeding Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) and the observations of Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Imperial Eagle...

Ornithological report for the year 2006 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematical order. The most relevant data include the occurrence of White Pelican, Gray Phalarope, Yellow-browed Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and breeding Great Spotted Cukoo. Some alien species...

Ornithological report for the year 2005 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematical order. The most relevant data include the occurrence of White Pelican, Greater Sand Plover and Terek Sandpiper. Some alien species have been observed just first time.

Ornithological report for the year 2004 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematical order. The most relevant data include the occurrence of wintering White-headed Duck and breeding Ferruginous Duck, Red-footed Falcon, Sedge Warbler and Spanish Sparrow. Some alien spec...

Ornithological report for the year 2003 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematical order. The most relevant data include the occurrence of Spotted Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Eleonora’s Falcon; Black Stork, Greater Flamingo, Withe- fronted Goose, Common Scoter an...

Ornithological report for the year 2002 in the Veneto region (NE Italy). Some interesting data concerning wintering, breeding and migration are given in systematic order. The relevant data include the occurrence of Gannet, White-tailed Eagle, Spotted Eagle, Eleonora’s Falcon, Audouin’s Gull, Ural Owl; the first nesting of Collared Pratincole and th...