Aspects Regarding Raptors Migration over the Black Sea

Abstract We investigated diurnal raptors movements in the Black Sea basin. Bird migration over the western Black Sea has not been studied properly, scarce data being available mainly by Drost’s paper (1930) thus referring only to the birds from Snakes Island, and few new data collected during more recent research expeditions. The study of migration over large water bodies is a very complex task, due to the difficulty of reaching these areas; observations in this paper were made from research vessels and offshore oil rigs. Our data together with previously published information provides a new insight into bird migration routes over the Black Sea. Species observed across the Black Sea basin followed routes that are part of Via Pontica Corridor and Trans-Caucasian Corridor. The aim of this paper is to have a clearer image of the migration phenomenon in this area, such data are important for management and conservation of migratory birds.