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This study describes the monitoring work related to the nesting of the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos in Northern Marches Apennines (Central Italy), in province of Pesaro-Urbino. Monitoring took place between 1983-2023, when a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 breeding pairs nested in the research area. The 16 nesting sites used by the Golden Eagle were located on cliffs with niches, ledges and high shallow caves, at an average height of 744.43 m (±249.7 m) a.s.l. The average number of nests per territory was 3.2 (±2.28 SD). The exposure of nest sites was heterogeneous. The maximum density for the species was 0.60 pairs/100 km2 and the Nearest Neighbor Distance was 8.84 km ±2.5. Most of the first incubations occurred in March and within the study period, at least one incubation was always observed. Incubation and fledging periods lasted on average 44.70 days (±1.78 d) and 81.76 days (±6.45 d), respectively. Over the study period, the breeding pairs raised a total of 98 chicks, of which 75 fledged successfully. Across the 41 years of monitoring, the productivity rate recorded was 0.65 (N. fledglings/N. pairs), the reproductive success 0.94 (N. fledglings/N. pairs with confirmed incubation), the fledging success 1.14 (fledglings/N. success pairs) and the nestling mortality was 23.5%. In 13.6% of the total successful breeding events, two fledglings were raised per nest. Only in three years of monitoring, no fledgling was raised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study shows the results of the long-term monitoring of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus nesting in the Furlo Gorge State Nature Reserve located in the Marches region (central Italy). Monitoring took place between 1997-2022, when a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 breeding pairs nested within the protected area. During the study period, we identified 11 nesting sites used by the Peregrine Falcons that were located on cliffs with ledges and small niches, placed at an average height of 416 m (±89 m) a.s.l. Over the study period, the breeding pairs laid a total of 69 eggs, with an annual mean of 2.34 per pair, raising a total of 61 chicks of which 57 fledged successfully. Breeding attempts always occurred in March (with a pronounced peak in the second week) and incubation period lasted on average 32±1.60 days. During the 23 years of monitoring, the productivity rate was of 1.32 (n fledglings/n pairs), with a chick mortality of only 2.44% and a fledging success of 2.47 (fledglings/pairs with juveniles). This study highlights the Furlo Gorge as the second most important monitored breeding area for the Peregrine Falcon in the Marches region being the first one the Regional Park Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi (AN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the first documented observations of the behaviour of impaling or wedging prey items for dismembering and dividing later for the Red-backed Shrike in central Italy, where they breed mainly in agricultural landscapes. The study, carried out in the foothills of the Apennines, in the Northern Marche region from mid April to mid June 2011, revealed prey composition of invertebrates, and in terms of biomass, by birds, snakes and lizards, typical for an opportunistic hunter.