La migrazione primaverile del mignattino (Chlidonias niger) in Italia centrale

Abstract

The Author which is living in Italy since the spring 1952 made a long series of scattered observations on spring migration of the
Black Tern in central Italy. Observations reported in the article have been made at the mouth of Tevere unless otherwise stated, from ap1il till June 1955. Concluding the author thinks it's interesting to point: 1) the great number of Black Terns passing by the western italian coast (between 5.000 and 10.000 birds watched) from april 20 till june 20; 2) lateness of passage observed at
the end of june, as compared with the Southward autumn migration observed by English ornithologists in the middle and even at the beginning of july through North Sea and the British Isles; 3) the observed southward movemente during spring migration (which in the author's opinion could ste explained as a loca] movement due to the contrary direction of wind being probable that Black Terns get easier food against wind. Thisnotwithbanding a southward flight prolonged for hours looks odd enough when norma! trend is a Northward flight.