Centro Italiano Studi Ornitologici - CISO

The Centro Italiano Studi Ornitologici - CISO is a cultural, non political, non profit association which aims at the promotion of ornithological activity and research in Italy, working in connection with University Institutes and Departments, Natural History and Science Museums, recognized ornithological association and non professional ornithologists.

Instruments of this activity are :

• The ornithological journal AVOCETTA
• The Italian Ornithological Conferences CIO
• The Italian Rarities Committee COI
• The creation of working groups and coordination research projects on specific themes in the ornithological and environmental fields

Everyone agreeing with its social aims can associate to CISO. Association subscription is EURO 26,00.  Subscribers younger than 21 years old or first-time subscribers is EURO 16,00. All paid-up members of CISO are entitled to receive AVOCETTA free.  Institution subscription is EURO 31,00. Outside Italy US $ 35 post free. Back volumes: EURO 26,00, outside Italy US $ 35. The journal appears with one yearly volume, normally two issues per volume. AVOCETTA can be obtained in exchange with other ornithological journals.

>> Payment is due to the Secretary, by postal order: c.c.p. n. 34325308 entitled to Francesco Mezzavilla

The main activities carried out are:

• Publication of the ornithological journal AVOCETTA, edited since 1978 by an Editorial Board directed by S. Frugis, and subsequently edited by M. Fasola (1980-1990). The present editors are G. Fracasso, B. Massa and G. Tellini Florenzano.
• "Italian Atlas Project" (PAI), conclusion of the research financed by INFS on the breeding birds in Italy, according to the European Atlas metodology, and publication of its results in 1993, edited by E. Meschini and S. Frugis (cfr. Supplementi Ricerche di Biologia della Selvaggina, INFS, Vol. XX).
• Promotion of Italian Ornithological Conferences, starting from the first one held in 1981 in Aulla (MS, Tuscany).
• Editing and periodical publication of the column "New sightings ", subsequently named "Resoconto Ornitologico Italiano " on AVOCETTA.
• Monitoring of populations of "Rare breeding waterbirds"  and periodical publication of the results on AVOCETTA.
• Reorganization of the Italian Rarities Committee (COI - Commissione Ornitologica Nazionale) and periodical publication of the results on Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia and, since 2001, on AVOCETTA  (cfr. vol. 26/2002: 117-121).
• Scientific collaboration to the official "Red List of Italian breeding birds"  compiled by LIPU and WWF  (cfr. Riv. ital. Orn. 1999, 69:3-43).
• Adoption of the "Check list of the Italian Birds"  compiled by P. Brichetti and B. Massa (cfr. Riv. ital. Orn. 1998, 68:129-152).
• Adoption of the List of Italian Birds"   compiled by N. Baccetti, G. Fracasso and L. Serra.
• Adoption of theList of the Italian names of the Birds of the World"   compiled by C. Violani and F. Barbagli (First part published in Avocetta  2006, Special Number 30).
• Scientific collaboration to the project "IBA Italia", coordinated by LIPU at national level on behalf of BirdLife International, published in 2000 by LIPU.
• Scientific collaboration to the project "Central Mediterranean Ecoregion - Biodiversity vision "  coordinated by WWF-Italia at national level.
• Research projects "Owls and roads ": national census of nocturnal birds of prey found dead on roads, 1996-2000 (cfr. Galeotti P. et al.  2001. Avocetta  25:29).
• Collaboration to the project "MITO2000-Italy in Euromonitoring" with Ministero dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Università degli Studi della Calabria (first results in Avocetta  2002 vol. 26: 59-115).
• Constitution of a "Committee for the reintroduction",  evaluating the feasibility of reintroduction projects of birds species in Italy.
• Contacts and development of collaboration with the "regional ornithological groups" concerning specific research projects at national level.
• Collaboration to the monitoring project of Ardeidae in Italy 2001-2003.
• Organization and availability of the library of the CISO.

The main activities started or planned are:

• Organization of the 17th International Conference of the EBCC (Chiavenna, 17-22 april 2007)
• Organization of the 14th Italian Ornithological Conference (Trieste, 26-30 september 2007)

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