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Gabriele Galasso

  • Biodiversity Journal, 12 (2): 0441-0462

    Paolo Galasso, Carlo Cappuzzello, Egle Gambino, Giancarlo Torre, Gabriele Galasso & Nino Patti
    Avifauna of “Sicilian southeast swamp lakes” and surroundings areas (Ragusa and Syracuse, Sicily) with commented records of interest
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.2.441.462

    ABSTRACT
    The complex of “Sicilian southeast swamp lakes” represents one of the most important wetland of Sicily and south of Italy for many species of birds. A specific, detailed and complete bird checklist of such an important area was never published, so, data were collected on the field from January 2015 to May 2021 and 226 different species were recorded, thanks to weekly bird census funded and promoted by the German foundation Stiftung Pro Artenvielfalt, owner of the two biggest swamp lakes. In addition, data related to 18 additional species recorded in the same area were collected from bibliographic sources and personal communications from other ornithologists and birdwatchers, for a total of 244 species, of which 74 breeding in the area. A first complete checklist is presented in this paper, as well as the remarks of 44 of the most interesting, relevant or unusual bird records, including the most accurate and up-to-date estimates of breeding pairs of Marmaronetta angustirostris, Aythya nyroca and Porphyrio porphyrio in the study area.