Akritas Cape: a new raptor migration hot spot in the Balkans
Summary A previously unknown raptor migration hot spot has been identified in southern Greece. During the post-breeding migration of 2024, a total of 11,790 individuals were recorded in 15 days, including 11,606 European Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus. GPS tracking data from Finnish and Hungarian populations further highlight the site’s significance, suggesting that it could become the third migration hot spot for the species in the Mediterranean, alongside the Straits of Gibraltar and Messina. Plans to develop a wind farm in the area raise concerns due to its crucial role in the beginning of the long sea crossing to Libya.
Authors
- Ugo Mellone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9665-505X)
- Nikos Tsiopelas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2896-6144)
- Christos Barboutis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5644-4327)
Institutions
- University of Alicante (ES)
- CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (IT)
- Senologic Hellenic Society (GR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Bird Conservation International
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959270925100129
- Primary Topic
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00