MASSIMO BOCCA

The paper deals with the scientific researches carried out within protected areas in the Alps. The answers ob tained from the parks are briefly commented with regard both to research fields and methodological problems.

The visible migration of raptors was studied on the Maridmes Alps (Piedmonte, NW Italy) from I August to 30 October of 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. These observadons allowed a better documentation of the local migratdon pattern for 19 different species, especially the Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus was most abundant species (max. 1347 birds obeserved in one day). The significant numbers of Short-toe Eagle Circaetus gallicus enphatize the importance of the area for this Eagle.

PATRICK BAYLE

Diet of the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in Mercantour National Park and its surroundings (Alpes Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France). The diet spectrum of the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in the Southern Alps includes a large variety of prey, captured in all habitats. Between 1990 and 1994 in 10 breeding sites of the Mercantour National Park and its surroundings 2.704 prey items were identified: 1,776 mammals (36 species), 540 birds (56 species), 15 reptiles (4 species), 209 amphibians (3 species), 108 fishes (2 species) and 56 invertebrates (6 species). Medium-size rodents (mainly Edible Dormouse Myoxus glis and Black Rat Rattus rattus) and leporids (mainly Brown and Blue Hares Lepus capensis and L. timidus) are the most preyed species and form the major part of the prey biomass. Small rodents (especially Snow Vole Microtus nivalis and Woodmice Apodemus spp.) are also frequently captured while tetraonids and phasianids represent a consistent proportion of the prey biomass. Variations in the diet are noted in the contents of the 10 nests studied. The comparison of the present study with those from other areas of the Alps tin Switzerland and in Austria) shows differences from one region to the other. The diet of the Eagle Owl in the Mercantour area is characterized by a very high predation on leporids (also noted in the higher zones of the Valais in Swieerland) and on birds. The preservation of a sustainable population of Eagle Owls in the Southern Alps must include actions in favour of its "optimal" prey (leporids and galliforms), at least on the hunting territory of the different breeding pairs.

This research, begun in 1987, intended to investigate the presence of Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus in north-western Alps at the boundaries of its distribution. Data about arboreal covering and forest structure were collected to assess the potential availability of natural nidification sites. Only two potential natural cavities were found. In 1987 and 1988 Tengmalm's owls distribution was investigated listening spontaneous songs and replies to play-back stimulation. Since 1989 thirty-six nest-boxa were placed. The restricted number of checked pairs doesn't allow definitive conclusions about breeding activity. The instability of the population seems to depend on variation during the years of snow cover: this last aspect could be the reason of first laying's shift towards the middle of May. Prey remainders were collected from one nest-box and the preyed species upon mostly during the last stages of the breeding season are: Soricidae 15%, Gliridae 3,6%, Microtinae 62,1%, Murinae 17,1%, Chiroptera 0,7%, Aves 1,4%.

*Azienda Regionale Foreste, Via I.Nievo 2, 37128 Verona; **Museo civico di Storia Naturale, Lungadige P.ta Vittoria 9, 37100 Verona

The following projects are currently going on in the park: The Atlas of Breeding Birds (EOAC method), The Atlas of Wintering Birds (method after The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland) and The Inventory of Golden Eagle. The atlases are done in 5 x 5 km grid. The 500 m altitudinal zones and altitudinal distribution limits are also censused. So far, 110 breeding and 85 wintering species were recorded. The projects will be concluded in 1997 and the results published in 1998.

In this paper we discuss certain aspects of the movement of lammergeirs (Gypaetus barbatus) reintroduced in the Alps as part of an intemational project (FCBV, WWF, FZG 832/78). The data comes from a study carried out in the Adamello-Brenta regional park and from infommation gathered at other Alpine sites and reported by other partecipants in the project. Duringtheperiod 1991-1994 the Adamello-Brenta park was visited by at least five, and perhaps as many as seven individuals. In particular the three lammergeirs released in Switzerland in 1991, (Moische, Settschient and Margunet) become regular winter visitors to the park, moving thereafter, when spring arrived, to the Stelvio national park and Swiss national park of Engadine, covering an estimated area of about 3000 km2. Most of the data collected during the research refers to protected areas, in particular national and regional parks. In all we have about 7000 records, 1000 refer to the Italian Alps, of which 70%-80% involve the national parks of Gran Paradiso and Stelvio, the Argentera regional park and the regional park of Adamello-Brenta. It is currently difficult to determine the birds distribution and preferences, given the uneven nature of observer coverage and skills, which are generally greater in the parks. The date collected thus far, however, generally contradicts the findings of Muller and Buchli (1982) who regarded the Italian parks as unsuitable sites for the reintroduction of the species.

In the course of the years 1992 and 1993, several different habitats of the Adamello-Brenta Regional Park (Trentino, Central-Westem Alps) were studied to assess the bird population and determine the preferential habitat for each species. Two different methodologies, I.P.A. and Point counts, were used, and subsequently compared in order to recognize which method is best suited to gain a more complete knowledge about (avifauna) in wide, protected areas. The presence of a total of 74 species was assessed, of which 57 species were recognized by I.P.A. and 69 by Point counts. The comparison between the two methods revealed that Point counts is characterized by a very good costlefficiency rate. The efficiency of Point counts is well represented in Fig. 2, which shows that 89% of all of the species had been already counted in the course of 13 field surveys out of a total of 23.

ALAIN MARIE

La population française de Tétras-lyre (Tetrao tetrix) évaluée à 10.000 mâles (Magnani 1987) subit une nette régression sur l'ensemble des Alpes françaises. Une forte pression anthropique et une faible capacité d'adaptation à l'évolution de son milieu ont rendu cette espece fragile. Le constat de déclin sur la zone du parc national des Ecrins a suscité de la part de cet établissement public une volonté de conservation de cette espèce, qui nécessite un suivi régulier, une bonne connaissance de son statut et le choix d'une gestion adaptée.

CHRISTIAN COULOUMY

La population d'aigles royaux du parc national des Ecrins se répartit sur l'ensemble de la zone d'étude (2700 Km2). L'occupation territoriale est considérée comme optimale. Des opérations de dénombrements periodiques ont permis de recenser une population stable dont les effectifs présents en mars s'élevent à environ 100 individus; 37 couples territoriaux sont identifiés dont la reproduction est suivie, 173 aires sont répertoriées. Depuis 1981, l'envol de 191 aiglons a eté controlé, il se produit au cours de la 3 décade de juillet. La productivité est de 0.55 jeune/couplelan. Des éléments sur la mortalité et ses causes sont indiqués a partir de 38 cas recensés. Les juvéniles sont les plus exposés. Les facteurs anthropiques (tir, aménagements) sont fortement impliquées. Le solde natalité/mortalité est positif et explique, en plus de la population territoriale, la présence d'un important réservoir d'oiseaux sur la zone (>34 individus). Outre le remplacement des disparltions locales, I'hypothèse d'une contribution de ces aigles à la colonisation de régions abandonnées dans le passé est avancée.

*Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, C.P. 89, 10122 Carmagnola (TO); **Parco Naturale Del Mont Avic, loc. Fabbrica, 11020 Chamdepraz (AO)

During the Winter eve point counts were conducted in Chalamy's Valley woods of Pinus uncinata and P. sylvestris. The bird populations of both pine-wood are alike, nevertheless the insectivore-omnivorous Passerine living on trunk and branches prevail. The Crested Tit and the Coal Tit are dominant in both formation; the population in mountain pine woods seems only a little greater. The main sunlight in high altitude as regards valley bottom has a so marked effect on richness and abundance of bird communities that it reduces or almost undoes the impoverishment produced by the increasing altitude.

*ROBERTO TOFFOLI and **LAURA MARTINELLI

An analysis is made of the Bearded Vulture sightings from 1987 to 1995 in the Alps of the Province of Cuneo (Piedmont, N. W. Italy). 111 observations were collected, most since October of 1993, the year of the first release on the Argentera-Mercantour site: the observations concern at least 7 different individuals. The temporal distribution of the sightings shows a marked peak in Autumn and Winter, a period in which some Bearded Vultures used comparatively limited territories in their search for food, thereby making observation easier. Summer observations on the other hand were much more sporadic and represented short stays on the territory. As far as spatial distribution is concerned the sightings were made between the Vermenagna valley in the South and the Varaita valley in the North, with a concentration between the Gesso and Stura vallies.

*C.I.S.O., Via Veneto 30, 25029 Verolavecchia, (BS); **I.N.F.S., Via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, (BO)