Bestiary by Milano Animal City

Index Airone cenerino, Grey HeronI, Ardea cinerea Cigno reale, Mute Swan, Cygnus olor Germano reale, Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Gheppio, Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus Gallinella d’acqua, Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Folaga, Coot, Fulica atra

JacopoAbbate Amin Adelzadeh Mariya Badeva Alberto Benetti Genolini Mateusz Dawid Bialek Franz Bittenbinder

Piccione torraiolo, Feral Pigeon, Columba livia

Martina Bovo

Colombaccio, Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus

Andrea Brambilla

Tortora dal collare, Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto

Olga Buravkova

Rondone,Swift, Apus apus

Celeste Calzolari

Rondone pallido, Pallid Swift, Apus pallidus

Matheus Cartocci

Picchio rosso maggiore, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos

Lorenzo Ceccon

Rondine, Swallow, Hirundo rustica

Alberto Ceriotti

Balestruccio, House Martin, Delichon urbicum Ballerina bianca, White Wagtail, Motacilla alba Scricciolo, Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes Pettirosso, Robin, Erithacus rubecula

Maria Chiello Chu Wanru Alberto Contu Francesca Da Pozzo

Usignolo, Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

Codirosso, Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Francesca De Ponte

Merlo, Blackbird, Turdus merula Usignolo di fiume, Cetti’s Warbler, Cettia cette Capinera, Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla Pigliamosche, Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata

Mattia Di Carlo Guglielmo Di Chiara Selcan Emer Yulia Filatova

Cinciallegra, Great Tit, Parus major

Elisa Fiscon

Taccola, Jackdaw, Corvus monedula

Marco Gatti

Cornacchia grigia, Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix Storno, Starling, Sturnus vulgaris Passero d’Italia, Italian Sparrow, Passer italiae Fringuello, Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs Verzellino, Serin, Serinus serinus Verdone, Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris Cardellino, Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis Corriere piccolo, Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius

Alberto Giacopelli Mike Gkouliamakis Andrea Govi Enrico Guidetti He Ruoyu Eleftheria Kerameianaki Antonio La Marca Chiara Lippi

Airone cenerino, Grey HeronI, Ardea cinerea Jacopo Abbate

Darsena, the heart of Milan canal system Darsena was realized in 1603 by the spanish governor Pedro EnrĂŹquez de Acevedo, count of Fuentes (1525-1610): it was set close to the old walls and followed the perimeter of the south-western border. Darsena riceives water from Naviglio Grande and gives it to Naviglio Pavese: the mouth of the first and the riveulet of the second are only ten meters distant and they apparently did not have any repositioning during the years.

Jacopo Abbate

The Milanese Darsena During the years this body of water became a perfect place fot gathering different activities. From trading to night life, Darsena always attracted people becuase of its charm related to water. Surrounded by buildings and set in a dense urban fabric, Darsena gives milanese citzen a break from the noisey city life.

Jacopo Abbate

February in Piazza Cordusio Febraury is coldest month in Milan, but life doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop. People are still in the streets and place like Piazza Cordusio are populated by visitors and locals. The beautiful surroundings of the ancient castle and the close-by Sempione Park make this square an intresting hot spot of the city.

Jacopo Abbate

Giardini in Piazza Vetra Set just behind the most ancient church of Milan and the famous roman columns, the gardens used to be an abandon place full of trees, bushes and shrubs. A green spot close to Navigli and to Porta Ticinese, it offers the chane to take a walk in the nature without separating from the city center.

Jacopo Abbate

Fishing in the Darsena Fishing in city center? Yes. Darsena offers you a variety of fish. Chubs, carps and crucian carps. This water is populated not only by fish but by several water animal such as grass snake, rats and small reptiles. Different species brought in the city by the river stream.

Jacopo Abbate

Fish market along Navigli Every tuesday along Naviglio Grande takes place the famous fish market. Sellers from anywhere near Milan come here in order to sell their products. Although Milan does not have the sea, it is one of the northen city where you can find one of the freshest fish in the country.

Jacopo Abbate

Piazza del Duomo, the milanese identity The piazza marks the center of the city, both in a geographic sense and because of its importance from an artistic, cultural, and social point of view. This is the place where the people of Milan gather, the place where to be together and celebrate. This piazza was the scenario for different events, starting from dictatorship speeches to great concerts.

Jacopo Abbate

Naviglio shoals During the year Navigli drain twice for a month or two. The spring shoal starts usually in february, while the winter one in the half of september. The atmosphere totally changes during this shallow-water perdiod. The charm related to the presence of water disappears and the river bed brings to light objects and hidden animal species.

Jacopo Abbate

Mute Swan, Cigno reale Cigno reale, Mute Swan, Cygnus olor BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of Adelzadeh swan, and thus aAmin member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. The name 'mute' derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. This large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. It is recognizable by its pronounced knob atop the bill. Adults of this large swan typically range from 140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 in) long, although can range in extreme cases from 125 to 170 cm (49 to 67 in), with a 200 to 240 cm (79 to 94 in) wingspan. Males are larger than females and have a larger knob on

Biological Characteristics The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan, and thus a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. The name â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;muteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. This large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. It is recognizable by its pronounced knob atop the bill. Adults of this large swan typically range from 140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 in) long, although can range in extreme cases from 125 to 170 cm (49 to 67 in), with a 200 to 240 cm (79 to 94 in) wingspan. Males are larger than females and have a larger knob on their bill. On average, this is the second largest waterfowl species after the trumpeter swan. The mute swan is one of the heaviest flying birds. Mute swans are invasive because they are non-native species that have become established and spread rapidly, causing negative impacts such as competition with native wildlife, displacement of native species and degradation of wetland habitat. Despite their name, these birds are not really mute. Adult birds are usually silent but will use hisses, barks and rattling snorts when threatened, and juvenile birds have additional whining calls to attract attention. Other Physical Features endothermic homoiothermic bilateral symmetry Sexual Dimorphism male larger Communication Channels visual acoustic Perception Channels visual tactile acoustic chemical Mating System monogamous

Amin Adelzadeh

Habitat The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. The mute swan is found naturally mainly in temperate areas of Europe across western Asia, as far east as the Russian Maritimes, near Sidemi. Mute swans nest on large mounds that they build with waterside vegetation in shallow water on islands in the middle or at the very edge of a lake. Mute swans are associated with both tidal and freshwater wetlands (marsh). They can be found in ponds, slow rivers, coastal bays, and inland lakes. They are monogamous and often reuse the same nest each year, restoring or rebuilding it as needed. They feed on a wide range of vegetation, both submerged aquatic plants which they reach with their long necks, and by grazing on land. The food commonly includes agricultural crop plants such as oilseed rape and wheat. mute swans are usually strongly territorial with just a single pair on smaller lakes, though in a few locations where a large area of suitable feeding habitat is found they can be colonial. These animals are found in the following types of habitat temperate saltwater or marine freshwater Aquatic Biomes lakes and ponds rivers and streams coastal Wetlands marsh Other Habitat Features estuarine

Amin Adelzadeh

Temporality During winter part of the northern population moves south; many are sedentary and stay in the area where they breed, only moving to the coasts. The ones that migrate from Europe get together with some of the populations of the Black and Caspian Seas. In Asia they winter on the coast of the Yellow Sea and the Korea peninsula. Some of the youngsters of the year stay on the wintering zones until the next year when they return with the adults to the breeding regions. Considered occasional on the rest of most of Europe, the Nile delta, Persian gulf, in Iran, from Afghanistan to India, Korea peninsula and Japan. The Mute Swan has been introduced in North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan. There is no mass migration, though in winter there may be gatherings numbering more than 100 individuals in open salt water. When swimming, a mute swan holds its neck in a graceful curve with the bill pointing downward, as opposed to other swans, which carry their bills level and necks erect. Top flight speed is 50 to 55 mph. Besides they are able to fly in about 60 days.

Amin Adelzadeh

Food Cycle What do they eat? Mostly herbivorous, swans have a voracious appetite for submerged aquatic vegetation. The large quantities of aquatic vegetation that are consumed by mute swans often result in overgrazing and the destruction of habitat, ultimately having negative effects on aquatic habitats and the native species associated with such ecosystems. Occasionally, swans will feed on insects and other invertebrates. (Eelgrass, sea lettuce) Mute swans eat mainly aquatic vegetation, but include small proportions of aquatic insects, fish, and frogs. Mute swans plunge their head and long neck below the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface to graze.. Swans feed in deeper waters than ducks and other waterfowl that share their habitat and thus do not compete with them directly for food. Rather, food is made more readily available to other birds by swans because parts of the plants they consume float to the surface while the swans are feeding. However, mute swans compete with other swans for food because they feed in similar ways. Primary Diet :herbivore folivore Animal Foods :insects mollusks aquatic or marine worms Plant Foods leaves roots and tubers algae Mute swans feed primarily on aquatic plants such as pondweed, coontail, waterweed, wild rice and wild celery. What roles do they have in the ecosystem? Mute swans impact aquatic vegetation communities through their grazing.

Amin Adelzadeh

Food Cycle What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten? Mute swans are large and aggressive birds. As adults they are not often preyed on unless they are old or ill. Eggs and hatchlings are vulnerable to nest predation by raccoons, mink, and a wide variety of other medium to large-sized predators. But swan parents are typically present to protect their young. Known Predators raccoons (Procyon lotor) American minks (Neovison vison) Healthy adults are rarely predated, though canids such as coyotes, felids such as lynxes, and bears can pose a threat to infirm ones (healthy adults can usually swim away from danger unless defending nests) and there are a few cases of healthy adults falling prey to golden eagles.

Amin Adelzadeh

Reproduction Mute swans are monogamous and believed to mate for life. A pair of birds will incubate 2-10 eggs for 36-38 days, and both parents help feed the precocial young until the birds’ first flight at 100-150 days. Young birds learn to swim and forage within a day of hatching. Mated pairs raise one brood per year •Mating System Mute swans rarely nest in colonies. Nest sites are selected and breeding begins in March or early April. These swans either build a new nest or use a previously constructed mound, such as a muskrat house. The nest is large, made of aquatic vegetation, and lined with feathers and down. It is built well above the normal water level in swampy places near a pond or lake. It is possible for clutches of 5 to 12 to occur, but 5 to 7 is most common. The eggs are pale gray to pale blue-green. Incubation lasts 36 to 38 days. The chicks are brownish gray (gradually turning white within the next 12 months) and only remain in the nest for one day. The male may often take the first-hatched cygnet (hatchling swan) to the water while the female continues to incubate the remaining eggs. They are able to fly in about 60 days. Chicks can ride on the backs of their parents or under their wings. By the following breeding season the parents drive the young away. The cygnets then join flocks of other non-breeding swans, and during this time molt their feathers, becoming flightless for a short period of time. In the next two years, the cygnets begin to bond with a mate and begin to look for suitable breeding territory. Swans do not begin to breed until about their third year. The sexes share incubation, though the female spends the majority of time sitting, and the male usually stands guard. Mute swans do not mate for life, contrary to the stereotype of the ‘pining swan’ who has lost its mate. In fact, some have been observed to have as many as four mates, or even ‘divorce’ one mate in favor of another. However, established pairs are more successful breeders than non-established pairs and mute swans do mate with only one other swan during each breeding season.

Amin Adelzadeh

Stereotype Over the past century, mute swans have become a symbol of love. The birds mate for life, and when two mute swans sit beak to beak, the curve of their long necks make a heart-shape. In some cases they are domesticated for food in Britain. Meanwhile they might be considered as a aggressive bird. Swans may attack people who approach their nests too closely. There are records of them knocking boaters off of jet skis. An adult swan can seriously injure children. Si its better not to get close to their nests and keep the safe distance.

Amin Adelzadeh

Perspetive on the human Human can be considered as enemy.its better to keep the safe distance of their nest because mute swans can be very aggressive in defence of their nests. Most defensive attacks from a mute swan begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator, are followed by a physical attack. Swans attack by smashing at their enemy with bony spurs in the wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill. Mute swans will approach picnickers and visitors in hopes of handouts, but it is not wise to feed them â&#x20AC;&#x201C; bread is not a good food source for swans, ducks or geese. Furthermore, these large birds can become aggressive quickly and are best left alone.

Amin Adelzadeh

Food Cycle Mute swans are one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most aggressive waterfowl species, especially during nesting and brood-rearing. Mute swans exhibit aggression toward other waterfowl and can displace native waterfowl from their nesting and feeding areas by attacking, injuring and even killing other birds. Mute swans feed primarily on water plants. By feeding heavily on this food source, mute swans reduce the availability of these plants to native wildlife, and may ultimately reduce the carrying capacity of wetlands for native wildlife species including birds, mammals, amphibians and fish. Mute swans set up large territories of 4 to 10 acres, which can include an entire small lake or pond.

Amin Adelzadeh

Germano reale, Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Marya Badeva

Description The Mallard Duck is approximately 60 cm (2 feet) long with a wing span of 82-95 cm (32-37 inches). Mallards are sexually dimorphic. Males (drakes) have breeding (alternate) plumage and basic (eclipse) plumage. Male breeding plumage is characterized by iridescent dark green head, narrow white neck ring and chestnut-brown breast. Back and wings are brownish gray. Underparts are light grayish. Tail is white on outside with two distinct black feathers in the centre that curve back. Bill is yellow to greenish, with black nail at tip. The eclipse plumage is similar to the females, but it maintains its yellow bill and chestnut colored breast. Females (hens) have plumage that is similar to basic plumage of males: pale brownish face, dark line through eye, mottled brown body and wings. Juveniles are similar to females. Often, a distinguishing speculum (a bright blue rectangular spot of color) can be seen on wings of drakes and hens.

Marya Badeva

Habitat Mallards tend to prefer more of a grassland around a pond or small lake with lots of reeds or a marshy area for its specific habitat. This is due to how Mallards typically feed. They are referred to as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dabbling duckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which indicates that it tends to feed on the surface. This can been seen when the Mallard is on the surface of the water and tips its tail vertically while submerging its head to look for food beneath the surface.

Marya Badeva

Food Cycle The collage shows how a mallard duck can be linked to many wetland food chains. The images that form the top half of the collage are animals that might eat a mallard sometime during their lives. The images that form the bottom half of the collage are plants and animals, a mallard might eat sometime during its life. Each of the animals around the mallard also connects to other food chains. In this way, the chains make up part of a wetland food web. Young Mallards can fly after about two months. Until then, they are very vulnerable to predators. Foxes, raccoons, snapping turtles, and large fish will take ducklings. Mallard eggs are also eaten by crows, snakes, and other predators. Young Mallards will eat small crustaceans (such as shrimp), insects, and plants (such as duckweed). As they get older, Mallards will eat grains and seeds from corn, wheat, barley, bulrushes, willow, water elm, oak, and hackberry. They will also eat young weeds and roots of plants in shallow water, as well as insect larvae from the muddy bottom, clams, snails, adult insects, small fish, tadpoles, fish eggs, and earthworms

Marya Badeva

Temporality Research shows that mallards behave differently before and after dark. Some interesting findings include that they are typically more active at night in mild weather and curtail their nocturnal activity during severe weather. In addition, ducks generally fly out to feed earlier in the evening on moonlit, windy nights than on moonless, calm nights. For Mallard pairs and broods, patterns of feeding and resting behaviour appear to be mirror images of each other across hours of the day and that suggests the amount of time spent feeding constrains the amount of time spent resting. It is also commonly believed that dabbling ducks have peaks in feeding activity at the beginning and end of the day. Feeding methods also may show daily patterns, especially where aquatic invertebrates move vertically through the water column. In terms of Migration, Mallards Birds migrate long distances from wintering grounds to breeding areas and back again to the wintering grounds with visual and nonvisual cues. Visual orientation mechanisms that ducks use include the sun, polarized light, stars, and even landmarks. Birds use the axes of polarized light to determine the position of the sun and perform sun compass orientation. Crafty experiments performed in planetariums have shown scientists that some birds actually use a stellar map to find their way around in the night. Landmarks may be important for navigation, not as compasses, but as directional cues. Coastlines, mountain ridges and waterways such as the Mississippi River are major topographic features that may be considered landmarks. During much of the winter ducks loaf about eating and storing up nutrients in preparation for the long trip back to the breeding grounds. Waterfowl can withstand very cold temperatures, but when their food source is eliminated they must leave northern areas in search of mild temperatures. When shallow ponds or lakes freeze over with ice ducks can no longer reach aquatic plants and insects for meals. Ducks that feed on seeds or waste grain must also leave the area when snow falls cover their foods. Ducks winter in mild areas where food is plentiful and the water rarely freezes.

Marya Badeva

Stereotype Mallards are often depicted in proximity to water and water structures. The image represents the most often association of a mallard when it comes to mind. Having ‘interviewed’ a number of people asking them to describe their stereotype of a mallard duck the response of ‘water & the bird in close proximity to it’ was the prevalent one. The montage encapsulates the idea if the tight relationship between the bird and water environment.

Marya Badeva

Reproduction Mallards typically start looking for mates during the autumn months. Once winter rolls around, they usually are set in that department. Mating takes place during the months of March, April, May and June. Male mallards, for the most part, assist females in finding places to nest, mostly at night. When scouting out nest locations, mallards look to the ground -- specifically damp soil. They seek out spots on terra firma, and nearby water is an absolute requirement -- 300 feet away, maximum. Mallards generally opt for shallow holes that are hidden, usually by high grass or some other type of plant. Farming sites are common nesting spots for mallards, particularly those that grow alfalfa. Oat and barley fields are also preferred settings for their nesting needs. Mallards sometimes also nest in openings of trees, over tree stumps and below thick shrubs. “City slicker” mallards occasionally even set up their nests on roofs and in areas close to swimming pools. Mallard mamas build their nests while they’re already inside them. They tug on the necessary elements that are close by -- think twigs, foliage and grass. They also sometimes use feathers to make their nests, too, but only once the incubation process has started. For these purposes, the hens retrieve the feathers out of their chest areas. At full completion, mallard nests are usually around 1 foot in width. The nests also typically contain “basins” for the eggs. These basins, in depth, are usually between 1 and 6 inches. They also are usually between 6 and 9 inches wide.

Marya Badeva

Coexistence As seen in their reproductive habits, the Mallard will often mingle with other ducks that are similar to their species since they have been known to interbreed. They can also been spotted with ducks that have less relation to them. Mallards, along with most ducks in general, are attracted to areas with other ducks, especially during migration. This is true because when the climate is cool, open waterways with a food supply are highly desirable, and ducks will flock together wherever there is food and water during this time. Mallards help humans by controlling insects and other small animals, such as snails. Mallards are also hunted and eaten. Additionally, many children (and adults) have enjoyed feeding Mallards with bread or seeds, although this is not recommended. Mallards need to eat wild food from their environment, and food made for humans (such as bread) is unhealthy for them. Sometimes Mallard can be found in a helathy playful relationship with certain cats and dogs, especially in a city environment such as the one depicted on the picture.

Marya Badeva

Visual Perception Mallards see a much wider area, like a widescreen TV, but most of that area looks flattened compared to our vision. In the middle of that area they have overlap between the visual fields of each eye, so there they do perceive depth, allowing them to navigate while flying and judge how far to peck to grab a bug. Bird vision differs from ours in some other ways too. They can see into the ultraviolet a little bit, which we can’t, meaning they see some colors that we can’t see. Some birds have ultraviolet coloring on their feathers that is invisible to us. We perform the quick motions of our eyes using muscles around the eyes, so we can look around without moving our head. Ducks can do this only a little, so if they want to look around, they have to move their whole heads. This is why they are constantly cocking and rotating their heads. Mallards can control the curvature of both the lens and cornea (mammals, including humans, only control the lens). This is basically how birds can see extremely well while flying and while in the act of diving/feeding. In addition, their eyes act independently and they use one at a time to allow for depth-perception since nearly all waterfowl have monocular, not binocular, vision – they can’t stare forward at objects. Another unique thing about the mallard and other ducks is that they can see in almost all directions. A few ducks are the exception to the rule, but usually the eye placement allows them to view in many different directions at the same time. Secondly, waterfowl have a very high number of cones (which dictates color vision in humans) which allows them to see sharp images and have color vision where colors are more vivid than humans’ ability. The breadth of color vision is much wider than our own since UV light can be observed by waterfowl (UV light is absorbed by lenses in humans). This allows waterfowl to fly at night or feed in the dark or at low light conditions. The image that is represented emphasizes on the fact how ducks will see us during night. The wet hands epitomise the idea of trying to reach the animal and potentially how these hands will be seen at nighttime.

Marya Badeva

Gheppio, Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus Alberto Benetti Genolini

Description The common kestrel is one of the smallest bird of prey originary from Europe. It measures 32-39 cm head to tail, with a wingspan of 70-80 cm with a marked sexual dimorphism both in plumage and in size. Females are noticeably larger but the male has a specific plumage blue-grey on the cap and the tail as well as a black rimmed cheek, peculiar to all their closest relatives. In the wildlife they have been recorded to live up to 16 years. In Europe is considered a sedentary species, occasionally migrating south in winter. It is a diurnal animal of the lowlands as it spends most of the day surveiling the grassland, perching on poles, lamppost or flying around keeping the typical mid-air stance called spirito santo.

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Habitat The common kestrel is widespread in Europe, where is present all-year long, and in Africa, during migratory season. It prefers open habitat such as crop fields, shrub land and marshland. It does not require woodland or forests as long as there are alternative perching and nesting sites, including tall buildings or even monuments. The species easily adapted to the expanding urban environment, adapting its behaviour to the different inputs coming from human presence and the new environmental challenges. Within the urban territory it favor places where it can find two basic conditions: open green spaces in proximity of good nesting cavities. It is a territorial and resident bird and strongly defends its territory, up to the point of chasing and harassing larger raptors until they fly away from the area. Because of its territorial instinct it has been used on important buildings as a deterrence for other more invasive and detrimental birds such as pigeons. As predators near the top of the food chain, raptors represent potential flagship species of urban wildlife conservation and an indicator of the quality of habitat in parks. The typical size of territory is approximately 1/3 of a mile - 0.5 km in diameter.

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Food chian The common kestrel is one of the smallest bird of prey in Europe. Nevertheless it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any natural predator except for the risk of being hunted by other bird of prey during the hatching season. Its diet is relatively wide and eats mostly insects and other invertebrates, as well as small rodents and birds. Common foods include grasshoppers, cicadas, beetles, and dragonflies; scorpions and spiders; butterflies and moths; voles, mice, shrews, bats, and small songbirds. Kestrels also sometimes eat small snakes, lizards, and frogs. And some people have reported seeing American Kestrels take larger prey, including red squirrels and Northern Flickers. A kestrel family during breeding season will eat upwards of 500 voles or mice per year as well as numerous grasshoppers and locusts. Modern studies have shown a peculiar divergence in dietary habit between the urban settled kestrels and those living in the countryside. Studying remains in the nests, ornithologists have noticed a strong prevalence of small birds like wood-pigeons and sparrows in the diet of the urban kestrels, whereas the grassland offers a completely different environment thus allowing the kestrel to hunt on mice, voles and grasshoppers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting to notice that mice have adapted their behaviour to the urban environment, shifting territories to places hardly accessible by kestrels like the sewage system.

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Income generator The common kestrel has proven itself to be extremely adaptable to the urban environment, hovering with its typical stance over parks and open spaces in city. Because of its characteristics and good-looking appearance it has rapidly taken the pedestal in the urban birdwatcher associations, up to the point where special tours can be booked for a all-day long photographic safari across the city to spot some of the most visible and recognizable birds, kestrel included. Kestrels had a major benefit from the deforestation and subsequently farming of vast territories of America due to the expansion of their optimal hunting environment. Their preference on agricultural lands lead biological farmers to adopt kestrels as pest control agents of rodents on combination with barn owls. The first ones daily active with the seconds who are most active during the night create a all day long protection against rodents and other nuisance to cultivations.

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Barn Owl & Kestrel Recent Updates

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Breeding behaviour The common kestrel and all its species are considered secondary cavity nesters that nest in existing natural or man-made cavities. The most common used ones are those excavated by woodpeckers. It starts breeding in spring, i.e. April/May. After finding a potential nest site, the male seeks out the female and leads her to it. The breeding ritual includes quick swoops by both sexes and a frequent series of highly pitched calls that are responsible for its Latin name tinnunculus that is supposed to come from tinnire which stands for jingle. Due to its incapacity to build nests, it has found in the urban area a suitably environment to breed, thanks to the average higher temperature and to the numerous nesting possibilities into historical building.

Alberto Benetti Genolini

13TH NOV 2014

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Stereotypes The common kestrel, as most of the raptors and falcons, is considered having a keen eyesight. This said, the truth is that most of its hunting ability is coming from being able to see near ultraviolet light, allowing the bird to detect the urine trails around rodent burrows as they shine in an ultraviolet colour in the sunlight. In the sciamanic and animistic culture the kestrel as totemic kestrel is considered to represent control of speed and movement. It teaches observation, patience and quick-thinking. Those who are best described by the kestrel are considered detail oriented and with agile mind.

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Kestrel Milan

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Human Perception The common kestrel is one of the few species that gained a lot from the urban expansion, easily adapting to the new habitats both in nesting and diet behaviour. Nevertheless, it cannot be considered a social-friendly animal, favoring isolated or secluded spaces within the urban texture such as tall buildings or bell towers. Kestrels can easily co-exist with the human race and it has been already largely proven that both species have a lot to gain from each other.

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Other animals Even though it is one of the smallest birds of prey, the common kestrel within the urban environment can be considered as being on top of the food chain. their fierce lifestyle and hunting techniques make them able to hunt on almost any other living creature in the city. Due to its strong territoriality itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no stranger to pick up fights with other birds to protect the nest and its hunting territory.

Alberto Benetti Genolini

My tasty friends

13TH NOV 2014

#Social-life; #nofriends; #butmanysnacks; #likeme;

Kestrel

Kestrel Kestrel 3 min ago My friends

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Gallinella d’acqua, Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Mateusz Dawid Białek

Description of biological characteristics The common moorhen is a meduim-sized member of the rail family found in aquatic environments. It is 32-35cm in length and has a wingspan of 54-62 cm. Average mass is about 300 g the range is 192-493 g It has gray-black feathers with a duller chin, throat and a red bill with a yellow tip. This species has white on the edges of the wings and rump. Legs are bright yellow-green and very strong. It has long chicken-like toes that help it walk on the top of floating vegetation, long grasses and the mud.The toes have no lobes or webbing to help in swimming, but the moorhen is a good swimmer because of very flexible sceleton in its neck and tail parts. The Common Gallinule sometimes lifts its feet out of the water in front of the body while swimming, perhaps to pass over vegetation. Newly hatched chicks of the Common Gallinule have spurs on their wings that help them climb into the nest or grab emergent vegetation. Males and females are similar, but males are a little larger. Other physical features: endothermic, homoiothermic, bilateral symmetry. Twelve subspecies of the Common Gallinule are recognized from around the world, most differing only in size or brightness of plumage. One subspecies is found only in the Hawaiian Islands and has been known as the Hawaiian Moorhen, or ‘Alae ‘Ula.

Mateusz Dawid Białek

Habitat Common moorhens are found in many aquatic environments- man-made or natural, and in still or moving water (freshwater and brackish marshes, lakes, canals and ponds with cattails and other aquatic vegetation) This species is partial to emergent aquatic vegetation which gives it adequate shelter. They are generally found in lowlands, up to 4575 m. Feeding: Forages in dense, emergent vegetation, shallow water, or nearby muddy shores. Often walks on floating plants and picks food from water or vegetation surface , or feeds by dabbling or diving. Major foods include seeds, grasses, soft parts of water plants, insects, mollusks, larval amphibians, and small fish . Young eat mostly insects. Cover: Requires dense, emergent vegetation for escape cover. Seldom swims in open water, as does close relative the American coot . Sometimes roosts in dense brush near water . Reproduction: Nest hidden amidst emergent vegetation; constructed from dead cattails, bulrushes, reeds, or other water plants. May be floating, suspended above water, or perched on tussock at edge of water. Runway to nest built through vegetation, and pair builds additional platforms to brood young Rarely nests in trees, or in abandoned nests of other birds Water: Prefers areas with both deep water (0.9-1.3 m) and shallow water (15-30 cm), such as marshes and ditches, lakes and rivers. Pattern: Lives in fresh emergent wetlands, with thick aquatic vegetation, occasional muddy openings and some open water. Wetlands need not be large; small patches of cattails in farm ponds, or urban parks, often provide sufficient habitat for this species. Common moorhens are widely distributed. In Europe they are found year-round. From Europe it is migratory into Russia during the summer months. It is found also in India and the southern half of Asia south to the Philippine Islands. In Africa this species is only found in the area of South Africa, Madagascar, a large section of the Congo and Algeria. They are also found throughout Mexico and Central America. In the United States, they are found yearround in California, Arizona, New Mexico and the Atlantic and Gulf coast states.

Mateusz Dawid BiaĹ&#x201A;ek

Temporality Temporality of Common Moorhen is strongly dependent from their reproduction habits. We can easly divide the year of Common Moorhen on two parts. In the first part which starts in March and finishes in August (Northern hemisphere) they are during their breeding period. It means that Common Moorhens split into couples and start their reproduction period in which they are taking care of newly born juveniles and focusing on protecting and expanding their territory. It is not known why but after breeding and reproductiv period they are leaving their gained territories and their carefully constructed nests to gather together with other moorhens into bigger groups called flocks. Probably it is easier way to survive this cold period in which is harder to find a food and protect from predators. It is also easier to find a future couple in a bigger group though.

Mateusz Dawid BiaĹ&#x201A;ek

Food Cycle The common moorhen eats a variety plant material and animal prey including the leaves, roots, and stems of underwater plants, duckweed (Lemna spp.), the leaves of terrestrial grasses and forbs, seeds, berries, fruit, mollusks (e.g., snails), insects (e.g.,grasshoppers, locusts), and worms. Seeds: • Peppervine(Ampelopsis arborea) • Waltershield(Brasenia schreberi) • Sawgrass(Cladium jamaicense) • Flatsedge(Cyperus sp.) • Pennywort(Hydrocotyle spp.) • Marshpurslane(Ludwiga leptocarpa) • Waxmyrtle(Myrica cerifera) • Cowlily(Nuphar luteum) • Waterlily(Nymphaea sp.) • Smartweed(Polygonum sp.) Leaves, stems, petals: • Hornwort(Ceratophyllum demersum) • Water hyacinth(Eichhornia crassipes) • Hydrilla(Hydrilla verticillata) • Frog’s-bit(Limnobium spongia) • Bladderwort(Utricularia sp.) Animal: • Dragonflies(Anisoptera) • Leaf beetles(Chrysomelidae) • Snout beetles(Curculionidae) • Dragonflies and damselfies(Odonata)

Mateusz Dawid Białek

Reproduction Common moorhen mating behavior is unusual. Female competes in antagonistic behaviors with other females for copulation with males. The males that are mostly desired are fat and small, this kind of body shape gives a female a simlpe sign that a male can afford to lose a lot of energy during a breeding period by feeding juveniles and expanding and protecting the territory The dominant female will chase the male in a courtship behavior. Copulation occurs on land and not in water. After coupling, the Common Moorhen begins the construction of nests and lays eggs beginning in March.Generally, this species lays five to seven eggs, with each female producing one clutch per mating season. However, there are populations that have two or more clutches per mating season, as in Miami, North America and Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. Parents are usually together with four or five small young individuals and two or three larger young individuals. These are likely individuals from different clutches. The first brood of juveniles remains home 18 days on average after the second brood is hatched, to assist the parents in protecting the territory and in obtaining food. This aid also results in a significant increase in the number of individuals in the second brood.

Mateusz Dawid BiaĹ&#x201A;ek

Stereotype Common moorhens are known to be easier heard than seen because of their shy, protective nature. Futhermore they are considered to be birds that sing very loud and beautiful. The repertoire of their calls is very wide and differentiated. In my home country Common Moorhen is called Kokoszka or Kurka Wodna. The second name is commonly used as a replacement of a much stronger curse, swearword.

Mateusz Dawid BiaĹ&#x201A;ek

Perspective on the human Common moorhens are very shy in their nature which is easly visible. They are afraid of humans. Human disturbance may be a problem for the moorhen, especially where cover is limited. Moorhen are secretive birds, and even though they can tolerate some disturbance, their use of an area depends on cover from real or perceived threats. To give a simple example: If you gonne throw some food to the pond where are ducks and moorhens, ducks will not hasitate and start eating the food that had been thrown, moorhens will not move from their covered areas.

Mateusz Dawid BiaĹ&#x201A;ek

Relation with other species Common Moorhen relations with other species are mainly based on victim-predator relations. Due to moorhens relatively small size it has number of predators but this varies depending on the area in which they live (in Florida USA even aligator and crocodile are moorhens predators).Canines including foxes(most common), wildcats, dogs, coyotes, raccoons and dingos. Apart of the food chain relations it has been observed very extraordinary common moorhen relation with turtles. Moorhens in Florida are frequently noticed â&#x20AC;&#x17E;ridingâ&#x20AC;? on turtles backs. Furthermore it has been observed that sometimes turtles were seem to take care of moorhens juveniles while parents were away in serch of food.

Mateusz Dawid BiaĹ&#x201A;ek

Folaga, Coot, Fulica atra Franz Bittenbinder

Appearence Coots are stocky black waterbirds with a distinctive white beak and forehead shield. Their wings are wide and round-ended, with a narrow white stripe along the trailing edge of their primary feathers. In body length they can reach up to 40 cm. In therm of wingspan up to 80 cm. As a swimming species, the coot has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult and it has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield. The black plumage developsat the age of about 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4 months, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old.

Franz Bittenbinder

Once upon a time the black

Coot conquered ground and air...

Habitat The habitat of the coots is spread over all Europe and Asia until Australia. In their natural habitat the species inhabits large, still or slow-flowing waters and shows a preference for shallow water with adjacent deeper water for diving and muddy substrates, marginal, emergent, floating or submergent vegetation. In the urban context they appear almost everywhere close to watersurfaces especially in small rivers, lakes and canals. In Milan there are several canals, f.e. the Navigli canals and the Lambro river which provide the coot with good living conditions. In this specific urban situation of Milan these conditions required for the coot habitat are: water surfaces of various depths (0,5-3m) for finding food (mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs), that are not overly polluted and protected areas next to the water that serve them to breed. In the urban context the coot appears almost everywhere close to watersurfaces especially in small rivers, lakes and canals. To find the coot in these environment the water should not be overly polluted and it should have a minimum of protection from walls, fences or ballustrades to ensure breeding conditions. Green spaces that are close to the water are even more favored by the coots to use as habitat.

Franz Bittenbinder

...but what he really needed in his life was water...

Time and Space The coot not just move on the ground but use also the air and the water as medium.

Air It is reluctant to fly and when taking off it runs across the water surface with much splashing. They do the same, but without actually flying, when travelling a short distance at speed in territorial disputes. Its weak flight does not inspire confidence, but on migration, usually at night, it can cover surprisingly large distances.

Water Th other important medium they use it water. They dive in search of food, bobbing back up to the same place on the surface like a cork. Doing this they can be up to 15 seconds under water diving up to 7 m.

Franz Bittenbinder

TIME SPEED

... where it merged to fish....

...ot took off to fly up in the air...

Food The coot obtains most of its food during its underwater dives, It also grazes on the land and on the surface of the water. The species is omnivore, having a diet including algae, vegetation, seeds and fruit but also insects, worms, fish and eggs of other water birds. In the urban context however the coot tends to take much more animal prey. Human society developed in the course of the history different ideas about a healthy and balanced diet. One important image for that is the foodpyramide. The coot, alike humans, does not stick so much to what is supposed to eat, but more what is easy to find. In the case of the coot foremost what it finds in the water. This also applies to waste from humans has an impact on the natural diet of the coot: The newspapers, bottles, cans and other kind of trashed things dissolve in time and go inevitably into the food cycle of the coot.

Franz Bittenbinder

...what he found to eat in water was anything but an ideal diet...

FOOD DIET /// DAMAGES

Reproduction Coots may breed at any time that conditions are favourable, and may produce successive broods. Usually they are laying up to 10 eggs, sometimes 2 or 3 times per season. During the breeding season pairs establish and maintain territories with vigour. Both sexes share incubation and care of the young. The nest is often a floating raft of vegetation, dead reeds or grasses, but also built of pieces of paper or plastic that the coot finds near the water edge. Usually only a few young survive. They are frequent prey for birds such as herons and gulls. In times when there is a lack of food the coots try to ensure the survival of a minimum number of chicks by biting their weakest ones to death so that at least some of their chicks have a chance.

Franz Bittenbinder

...which he needed to breed his chicks...

Stereotypes The perception of coots is characterised mainly by two aspects: First of all the bird is not seen as being useful in an utilitarian way but only as a decoration element in our public parcs - similiar to a monument without special function. The second aspect is the curious fact that the coot dives for fishing: Its underwater dives last up to 15 seconds, ranging down to 7 m.

Franz Bittenbinder

...who grow up perceived as a pure decoration in menâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s eyes...

Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye Coots are under permanent observation. They live in a habitat that is visited by humans mostly in their free time. Therefore it could be easily imagined that coots see humans as a kind of observing audience similiar to the situation in a theatre. They are restricted to the little space they have in the public space. Instead of receiving roses, fame or glory the only credit given by people to the coot is pastries.

Franz Bittenbinder

BIRD*s EYE PERSPECTIVE OF COOTS

...although in birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s eyes life is like living on a stage without escape...

Coexistence Coots live mainly together with swans, ducks, sea gulls and egrets. In a way they are like the musicians of Bremen - a team that sticks together despite their differences because they share a similiar fate. In the story a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster (or hen), all past their prime years in life and usefulness on their respective farms, were soon to be discarded or mistreated by their masters. One by one they leave their homes and set out together. They decide to go to Bremen, known for its freedom, to live without owners and become musicians there.

Franz Bittenbinder

...but luckily there is not just the coot but all his other town musician friends to support...

COEXISTENCE OTHER SPECIES

who lived happly ever after.

Piccione torraiolo, Feral Pigeon, Columba livia Martina Bovo

Description This bird belongs to the Columbidae family and to the Columbinae sub-family, its gender is the Columba. Feral pigeons were previously known as Rock doves, the species is native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia. They have been, between birds, the firsts to be domesticated by men (since the Egyptian Age), so that nowadays the descendent specie of the Columba livia is known as Columba livia domestica and is extremely widespread along the world, mainly in urban centers. Their life expectancy is between three and five years, but in good conditions their life can reach seven years. The domestic Feral Pigeons have a solid body, small head and short red legs; the beak is short and black, while the feathers are soft and present a variety of colors, from grey to blue, the main characteristic are the ones of the neck, which own a metallic tone between intense green, indigo and purple. They are strong birds with powerful pectoral muscles and wide wings (their total length can reach 70 cm), which move very fast and make the animal reach a noticeable speed while flying (more than 125km per hour).The Feral Pigeons also have great view skills, which make them distinguish colors and perceive ultraviolet light. The two sexes are morphologically similar, although usually the female is smaller than the male.

Martina Bovo

1. description

Habitat Feral Pigeons were previously known as Rock doves, the species is native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia, but, due to their wide domestication, the animal has been introduced by men worldwide. Wild rock doves nest in crevices along rocky seaside cliffs, close to agriculture or open shrub vegetation, in rural areas Feral pigeons live in old farm buildings. The common town pigeons have descended from the wild Rock dove found around the coasts, but the city birds were descended also from domestic pigeons which escaped from medieval dovecotes. The first evidence of their presence in modern cities dates back to 1385, n ST. Paul cathedral in London, but only in the XX century a real increase has taken place in the main european cities; the larger densities of pigeons are noticed in the city centres, moreover due to the tipology of the environment, dense woods or parks are often avoided. In any case the populationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size depends directly on the amount of food available. Pigeons are now living in the city where they are highly dependent on humans for food, roosting and nesting areas. Here the sites chosen for roosting and nesting are the nearest edificarian equivalents to caves, holes and sheltered cliff edges used by wild Rock pigeons, while for food pigeons can fly over 50 kilometers from their nest, in order to reach places where they can easily find food, which usually are feeding areas, parks, schools, bridges, big and touristic squares. Today in the world there are around 400 millions of Feral Pigeon, 10-15 millions in Europe, the most of the population is located in urban areas, in New York city there are around 1 million of pigeons, while in Milano in 2000 where counted more than 100 thousands birds. Feral Pigeons are sedentary, they rarely leave their local areas, their homerange is of 1,64 hectares and the exchange of birds between different squares depends on the distance, anyways between 275 meters and 775 meters. When the population assumes an high density, the pigeons get more aggressive and their stress-level increases with a contemporary decrease of the life quality. Finally, it has been seen that these animals have a highly social behavior, they flock indeed while roosting, sunning and feeding, but no play has been observed.

Martina Bovo

2. habitat

Temporality The Feral Pigeon lives with an average of 3 or 5 years, but when the food and environmental conditions are good it can live up to seven years, there are some cases of animals living 15 years. The “temporality” of this specie can be considered in its seasonal aspect and in its daily character. The Feral Pigeons belong to the bird order of Columbiformes, which includes migrants and stables, while the first group includes animal moving to cold temperate areas, the second refers to tropical species, as the Feral Pigeon. Although the animals don’t migrate seasonally some of their habits throughout the year change, mainly due to the reproduction cycle; while during October and November the birds hardly breed, the months between March and June are the peak season for reproduction, the incubation period lasts 14-18 days, during which the couple switch daily and after the birth the chicks stay in the nest for 3-5 weeks, being fed for 15 days by the parents. Also the climatic conditions influence the temporal habits, during winter the pigeons have a more aggregative behavior and spend more time daily in the resting site. As far as the 24-hour habits are concerned, typical daily rhythms are reported, with peaks of activity in the morning and the late afternoon. Their “daily schedule” depends on two factors, sleeping and feeding; while during the day the pigeons choose resting places such as roofs, under-roofs, ledges, holes, facades or gardens, one or two hours before dark they move mostly to underroofs, bell towers or similar. On the other hand, the food is the most significant between their daily activities and it strongly characterize their time, if the food source has a fixed time and space, they remember it at don’t miss the appointment after which the group spread up, while if the food source is not constant they prefer waiting together on a high site with a good view on possible feeding opportunities. Also their daily activity changes during reproduction period especially as the incubation period is concerned, the couple indeed shares this task and the male stays on the nest during the warm hours of the day, between 9-10 am and 4-5 pm, while the female incubates over night and in the early hours of the morning.

Martina Bovo

3. temporality

Repruction cycle What is most characterizing of the Feral Pigeonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reproduction is the speed of the process, they can indeed breed throughout the whole year, with an average of five clutches per year. Pigeons reach sexual maturity at the age of four-eight months and keep being able to breed until four years. They are monogamous, the male courts the female by inflating the breast and going around her, sometimes he also bring some food as a present for the future partner. Once the couple is made, the both choose a site for the nest, for wild birds being on rocky shelf, Feral Pigeons build their nest on accessible ledge on urban constructions or roof void of building and bell towers and any site protected from external dangers. Very simple materials brought by the male make the nest, in urban environment usually sticks, plumages and straws are used, although sometimes they also use plastics, electrical wires and cloths. The females lay two white eggs, two or three days one after the other, and both the parents take care of the incubation: while the male stays in the nest from the morning to the late afternoon, the female incubates the rest of the day and overnight. The period between two incubations is 20-28 days, in normal conditions a couple of pigeons gives birth to twelve squabs per year, sometimes reaching the number of twentytwo. After an eighteen-day incubation the eggs hatch and the squabs stay in the nest for the next month before fledging; during the first ten days the parents feed them with a sort of milk secreted in their crop, from the ninth or tenth day they start providing the squabs with pieces of food, still soften in the crop region. Another interesting aspect of the reproduction is the speed of the young pigeonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; growth, from a 25-30 gr egg in forty-eight hours the squab doubles its weight and for the next 28 days it increases it of 15-20 gr a day, until the young pigeon reaches a weight of 500 gr when leaving the nest.

Martina Bovo

4. reproduction cycle

Food cycle The food cycle of the Feral Pigeon draws back its origin from the wild dove, but its wide and ancient domestication had changed a bit the original habits, so that the current Feral Pigeons adapted very well to the urban diet; they consume daily 30gr of food and drink 60gr-90gr of water. The Rock Doves eat seeds, fruit and depending on the different species, also insects and worms, vegetables and berries, so while the wild animal ‘s diet is mainly based on cereals and leguminous, shoots, grass and small mollusk, the diet of the Feral Pigeons had to adapt to the urban sources and consists in seeds and human refuse, i.e. bread, pasta, cakes, popcorns, crumbs and garbage. The lack of vitamins and minerals in the urban diet of these animals often causes weakening and makes them more likely to get or pass on diseases. Sometimes urban flocks overcome this problem by flying out to the countryside, thus integrating their diet with leaves and other food. As far as the predators are concerned, the number of them strongly decreases from the wild environment to the urban one: the natural predators are the peregrine falcon and the sparrowhawk for adults and the magpie, crow, jay and the western jackdaw for eggs and chicks, while the main threat in the city are men. Nevertheless, due to the increase of some other species in the urban environment, some of the pigeon’s predators can be found also there, i.e. peregrine falcon, the tawny owl and the crow, which often eat dead pigeon, along with mousses and rats. Finally, it can be stated that the food cycle of Feral Pigeon is highly linked to the relation with human, who don’t only provide, on purpose or not, them with the main food resource, but also since the Egyptian Age (IV century b.C.) have domesticated these animals, including them in their economy. Pigeons’ long coexistence with men has concerns three fields: pigeons as meat source, their breeding in dovecotes as a noble leisure spread in Italy, France and Spain until the end of XVIII century and many other uses of the animal, such as messengers (also during war), for hunting or for sport (Triganieri, racing, falconry etc.

Martina Bovo

5. food cycle

Stereotype The stereotype of the Feral Pigeon is somehow the best way of representing the relationship between human and this animal in the cities nowadays. What made the pigeons become “rats with wings”, also known as “rats of the sky” are two main factors: on the one hand the extremely fast growth of their population in urban areas, reaching for instance 1 million animals only in New York City, and on the other hand the fact that these animals are often in touch with garbage or dirty places, moreover unlikely many other birds they don’t clean their nest and often build new ones on the top of previous, leaving there not hatched eggs, or dead chicks and the feces of their nestlings, so that the nest becomes a sturdy, mud-like mound that gets larger over time. Pigeons are thus known to bring more than sixties diseases, but it is also proven that it doesn’t actually occur so often and the stereotype turns to be more a widespread bias about this animal, rather than a real knowledge of it, thus representing the main obstacle to a renovation of the human approach towards urban pigeons. It is also interesting seeing how this specie has gone through a wide variety of symbol and icons by man during its long relationship with human life. Since Mesopotamian age, back over 5000 years, pigeons were represented in cuneiform tablets, although for sure their domestication dates back to the Neolithic age, 10000 years ago. While the actual role of the animal in that case is not truly understood, its religious significance starts to be clearer in the Egyptian period, first being found in funeral images and later when in 1100 b.C. King Rameses had 57000 pigeons sacrificed for religious purposes; pigeons’ religious importance rises up also from the Roman culture (images in Villa Adriana for example) and both in Old and New Testament. Another cliché which has described for a long time these animals is linked to their role as messengers, whose first evidences date back to the ancient Greek time and continued throughout history, carried out by many financial institutions (Reuters), new agencies and airmail service (New Zealand) in the 19th and later both in first and second World War in the 20th century, until the pigeons’ use was disbanded in 2006 (India).

Martina Bovo

6. stereotype

Animal’s point of view Perspective on humans Feral Pigeons have proven to be really smart animals, according to human idea of smartness, many studies haven’t only witnessed their navigating skill, but also their extremely good view, the pigeons indeed are the only birds overcoming the mirror test, they recognize up to 26 letters of the alphabet and distinguish between picture and reality, besides seeing colors and ultraviolet light. Also their memory has been tested and resulted to be extraordinary, the birds use mental perception processes similar to the human ones. But when it comes to try and put ourselves in their shoes, it must be recognized that more than nature what these animals see and live with are the humans and their environment. Due to the ancient origin of their domestication, almost since ever pigeons have been used to men and their habitat, so that it can be assumed that not only men are rather a common presence for them, but also that they know quite well humans. They might perceive the ambiguity in human attitude, which has developed throughout history and that now is very clear: from the one hand men represent the main and, in some cases, unique resource of food and shelter, but on the other hand they are also the main threat to pigeons’ life, fighting against them for their population’s “control” or just killing them with cars in urban environment. Although knowing all this, pigeons seem to have got used to it and often proved to be loyal to humans also when it came to risk their life, as in World War I. The question then is if this is due to a mere need of food and shelter, or if they developed a sort of dependency on men.

Martina Bovo

7. animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view _perspective on humans

Relation with other species The relation of Feral Pigeons with other species is strongly tied to their urban habits and their adaptation to the human environment. Pigeons are indeed social animals, but their social behavior concerns the flock itself, rather than the coexistence with other species; moreover, pigeons are stationary birds, which hardly move far from their resting sites and when it happens they quickly go back. The long lasting relationship with humans made their habits be much more “urban” than the ones of other animals, that more or less recently have started to populate the city; the consequence of pigeons’ adaptation to human environment lead them not to choose natural habitat within the city, unlikely many other species which mainly live in urban parks, an example of them is the Woodpigeon belonging to the same family of the Feral Pigeon. Besides not sharing the habitat with other animals, they don’t apply to the same food sources, being for other species other animals or vegetables, for pigeons food is mainly provided by humans, although this alimentation often doesn’t represent the best diet for them. Anyways thanks to the increasing number of wild species entering the urban areas and adapting to them, Feral Pigeons are starting to be part of the food cycle of the urban wild life, being hunted by other animals. Usually they aren’t the only animals being eaten by some predators, but often they represent the primarily meal of these predators, between the most common can be found the peregrine falcon and the hawk, due to their urban spread the seagulls, but also owls, cats (stray and domestic), various species of raptor and finally there are evidences of pelicans, catfishes and turtles eating pigeons when the birds occur to be around these animals’ habitat.

Martina Bovo

8. relation with other species

Colombaccio, Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus Andrea Brambilla

Description Walking around Milan is possible to see the wood pigeon. It is not so easy spotting it because it is an unconfident bird, really coy and frightened about humans. It is a Columbiform, like pigeons and doves and belongs to Columba family. It is 38-43 cm length, including the tail that is 25 cm at most, and it has a wingspan of 68-80 cm. Despite its weight that is about 400-580 g, and his robust frame, he can fly very fast, direct with frequent quick changes of direction. It is gray with typical white stripes on the neck and along the wings that appear after 6 month; the head and the back are bluish, the neck may tend to metallic green or purple and the chest is light gray or pink. Its beak is yellow on the upper part and pink on the lower part with a characteristic bulge at the top. The eyes may be greenish or lemon yellow. The male and the female are really similar and the only difference concerns the chest that is bigger and much more purple than the female. It lives in flock up to 5000 individual and fly up to 300 m high with constant speed of 50-60 km/h and acceleration up to 80 km/h to escape from predators. Its voice sounds like a particular coo; it is composed by five syllables with the stress on the second and the last two a little bit separated from the first two. It is similar to the collared doveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound but two syllables longer and repeated by the wood pigeon three or five times. It is unknown by the majority of people that often mistake it for a common pigeon. The wood pigeon is larger than the common or fereal pigeon and it has recognizable white stripes on the neck and along the wings.

Andrea Brambilla

Habitat There is still no knowledge of exact number of species because of its characteristic suspicion on humans but there are statistic data coming from observations and studies. In Europe, the number of couple may swing between nine and 17 million (about 25-50% of the total population); in Italy, the number of couple may be from 40 to 80 thousand with an average of 10 couple per square kilometer. In Lombardy, there are about ten thousand couple of Wood Pigeon. The Wood Pigeon is a quiet, suspicious and coy bird so its ideal and historical habitat is composed by huge forests and woods, as its name suggests, with open clearings where he can find food.It lives, nests and feed on children at the top of the trees but during the day it is possible to find perched on branches or walking on the grass. It prefer evergreen trees or big deciduous trees with several intricate branches where it can hide well its nest and itself. Its favorite trees are pines, oaks, holm oaks, beech trees, cedars and sometimes poplar trees. During the last two centuries it started to live also in urban environment in parks or big public gardens even if in some cases people has seen it in urban private garden with coniferous trees. In Milan the parks in which is possible find this kind of trees are, first of all, Parco Sempione and Parco Montestella, near QT8 neighborhood, then Montanelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public gardens, Parco Ravizza and Parco of Baggio in the western periphery.

Andrea Brambilla

Temporality The Wood Pigeon has always lived inside forests until the man started cultivate field. In fact, With the beginning of the agriculture it started to live close to the agricultural field to easily find food as stubble of previous season or new seeds. Since Middle Ages the Wood Pigeon became one of the most hunted animal and slowly, with the industrial revolution and the growth of the cities, it started to inhabits the urban environment, first just for wintering and then also for nesting, becoming today in most of European cities a settled bird. The first sightings in European cities are in Paris and in London in 1830â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Berlin in 1847 and Milan in 1886; this data suggest a strong connection between the changes of the cities after the industrial revolution and the urbanization of the Wood Pigeon. The transition between migration and settled population is neither fast nor radical; it takes decades and it starts with the reduction of the migration range. During the year, the behaviors of the Wood Pigeon change radically; in autumn and winter, it lives in flocks to find food and warmer environment but in spring the males leave the flock to find a partner and build its own family. In fact, in winter, the whole day is used to find food (about 95% of the time) but in summer, only 10% is spent eating or looking for food. A common individual of Wood Pigeon can live about three years in wildlife but can survive up to ten years if it is raised in captivity.

Andrea Brambilla

Food cycle The Wood Pigeon is an arboreal animal: it lives on trees but it finds it food on the ground, in the grass and in agricultural field. It is an adaptable and, during the time, it changes habits and behavior depending on the habitat. It prefer vegetable food but in some cases, it may eat small invertebrates like worms, ants and larva. While it is on the ground it finds grasses, clover, seeds, pine nuts, leguminous, berries and nuts; it stores this food in its throat and it fly on trees for eating safe from predators. It eat also little stones to help it grinding food. In cold seasons, it may eat ivy, laurel but also small chestnut, olives and grape. Throughout the year, in agricultural field, it can find several residue of corn, maize and barley and for this reason, in many agricultural environment it is not migrant anymore. It is a large bird so its predators are the biggest raptors like the peregrine falcon or the kestrel and the human. In fact, since Middle Age, the wood pigeon is one of the most hunted bird and nowadays a huge part of the hunting market concerning weapons and bait are interested in this animal. In the hunting market there are lots of particular bait composed by a fake plastic pigeon placed on a mechanical support that allow to pretend the movement of the animal. There is a huge production of different models: single birds or flocks and the prices are from tens to hundreds euros per tool. The wood pigeon is attracted by similar animal because it means that it could find food and the hunters use this behavior in their advantage. In the past the wood pigeon was hunted just for food but today is much more a sport for the leisure time; nevertheless, the wood pigeon is one of the finest cuisine in rural environment and in Italy is one of the typical Tuscany food.

Andrea Brambilla

Reproduction The wood pigeon lives in flocks during the winter but in spring, it becomes more individualistic and starts to live alone. The male use to build particular evolution in the sky to attract the female; it start with slow taking offs and noisy flapping of wings ending with glides and three tough sounds. After the coupling, the two birds fly around to find a tree suitable to nest. In the couple, the roles are very clear: the male provide branches and straw and the female build the nest combined the materials provided by the male. The nest is not too much elaborate and, from March to November, it hosts two eggs from one to three times per year. Once again, the roles of the two gender are defined: the male broods during the day and in the evening, the female takes him place. During this period, each couple is has its own territory and it defend this space from possible intruders or competitors. The area of this space depends on the amount of food and on the number of trees suitable to nest, in fact in cities the average of wood pigeon per square meter is higher than in countryside. After 17 days, the chicks break the case and after three-five weeks, they leave the nest. While the chicks stay in the nest it is feed by particular milk made by the parents in the throat.

Andrea Brambilla

Stereotype The wood pigeon is basically seen by humans as a common pigeon; in fact most of people that lives in urban environment does not know the existence of this species of Columbia. Even if the wood pigeon is really similar to the common pigeon it is possible to recognize by the larger size and by the typical white stripes on the neck and along the wings. The most important difference between common and wood pigeon is the nature of the two birds. One is really confident and lives in square and crowded places and the other prefers quite places like parks and gardens. In countryside or agricultural environment, the approach is really different. The wood pigeon is one of the most hunted species and behind this activity there is a huge market of weapons and equipment. In Italy, from the first of October to the 31st of December are killed 9,5 million of specimens per year. One of the most common strategy that hunters use is to follow the movement of the flocks and attract the wood pigeon with plastic bites placed on mechanics support. The wood pigeon is one of the finest bird eaten with rice, pot roast or sauce and is typical in agricultural or rural environment.

Andrea Brambilla

Perspective The wood pigeon is an unconfident animal because since Middle Age has been hunted by humans. For this reason is one of the shyest and suspicious bird, really wary of humans. Recent studies underline that in places where the wood pigeon is not hunted it shows behaviors that are more social and the escape distance in cities like Pisa is 5-6 meters. Its visual on humans is mainly from the top down because it prefers high trees in parks and gardens far from the street even if during the time it has been accustomed to human noise. Vision is the most important sense for birds, since good eyesight is essential for safe flight, and this group has a number of adaptations which give visual acuity superior to that of other vertebrate groups; a pigeon has been described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;two eyes with wingsâ&#x20AC;?. All birds, unlike humans but like fish, amphibians and reptiles, have four types of color receptors in the eye. One of these receptors gives some species of birds like the Columbia the ability to perceive not only the range visible by humans, but also the ultraviolet part of the spectrum, and other adaptations allow for the detection of polarized light or magnetic fields. Birds have proportionally more light receptors in the retina than mammals, and more nerve connections between the photoreceptors and the brain. Pigeons probably have an additional pigment and therefore might be pentachromatic. For a pigeon, resolution is twice as good with sideways monocular vision than forward binocular vision and has a fields of view of 270 degrees. It has a modest hearing even if it reacts well to pitched sound.

Andrea Brambilla

Relation In contrast to what happen with humans the wood pigeon has good relations with other species of animals. In fact during the winter, when the length of the day is less its hormone input are lower and became less aggressive and much more social. In this period, it uses to inhabit flocks of other birds, in particular common pigeon and dove flocks. Nevertheless, it has some predators that are attracted by its eggs like the magpie, the crow, the jaybird and also mammals like the ermine and the squirrel. One interesting behavior of this animal is that it hide itself in Eurasian hobby flocks to escape from the peregrine falcon, its most dangerous predator. In fact, the Eurasian hobby, that is a small falcon donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat the wood pigeon because is too huge and with this techniques it has more possibilities to survive. Sometimes it is possible to see the wood pigeon in swarm flocks because they are the same eating habits.

Andrea Brambilla

Tortora dal collare, Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto Olga Buravkova

Description of biological characteristics It is a medium sized dove, distinctly smaller than the wood pigeon, similar in length to a rock pigeon but slimmer and longer-tailed, and slightly larger than the related turtle dove, with an average length of 32 cm from tip of beak to tip of tail, with a wingspan of 47–55 cm, and a weight of 125–240 g. The adult male has buffy grey-brown upperparts, but the back is greyer. The flight feathers are darker brown. When the wing is closed, the fore edge appears bluish grey. The underparts show more pinkish chin, throat, neck sides and chest. The head shows pale grey forehead and crown, whereas nape and neck sides are more pinkish. At the rear of the head, at neck base, we can see a black half collar edged with white. The eyes are deep red, with whitish eye-ring. Legs are pinkish. Both sexes are similar, although the female may have slightly browner head. The juvenile lacks the black half collar, but it resembles adult with paler plumage. The Collared Dove utters monotonous calls including three notes, repeated several times “kroukooukou”. While flying, it gives rapid and nasal “kwourrr”, particularly when landing or excited.

Olga Buravkova

Habitat The Eurasian Collared-Dove lives in towns and big cities, in urban parks and gardens. According to the country, it may frequent semi-desert areas with scattered trees, but also mixed thickets and orchards. The collared dove is not wary and often feeds very close to human habitation, including visiting bird tables; the largest populations are typically found around farms where spilt grain is frequent around grain stores or where livestock are fed. It is a gregarious species and sizeable winter flocks will form where there are food supplies such as grain (its main food) as well as seeds, shoots and insects. Flocks most commonly number between ten and fifty. Collared doves become synanthrope birds. They have adapted to exist and reproduction near human. For nest they use any niches in human habitations and also as a material for nest they use a variety of human waste (rags, bags, wire, etc.). It is believed that the reason of expansion of collared dove is change of nesting. From forest habitats birds passed to city parks and squares. And another reason of expansion considered artificial settlement of Collared Dove in Turkey and Bulgaria.

Olga Buravkova

northern regions

winter

spring

summer

autumn

southern regions

winter

spring

summer

autumn

Temporality In the southern and central regions of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, Collared dove leads a sedentary life, winters on the nesting. As long as birds have access to food from bird feeders or from gleaned seeds from pastures and grain fields, they can tolerate fairly cold weather. Areas where the annual average low temperature is below 32 degrees are too harsh for these birds. But in winter they migrate from northern regions to southern regions. In late autumn in the more southern parts of the area increases the number of collared dove. It is occure not only due to the young birds, but also due to the arrival of migratory. Collared dove leads an active behavior only in daytime. They sleep on the neighboring tree near the nest. In winter birds sleep in sheltered areas with favorable microclimate: in the courtyards of houses, on the boulevards, in the midst of pine trees, near thermal communications, in squares.

Olga Buravkova

Food cycle The collared dove is not wary and often feeds very close to human habitation, including visiting bird tables; the largest populations are typically found around farms where spilt grain is frequent around grain stores or where livestock are fed. It is a gregarious species and sizeable winter flocks will form where there are food supplies such as grain (its main food) as well as seeds, sprouts and insects. The Collared Dove feeds mainly on seeds from cereals and grasses, but it also takes some buds, fruits, berries, insects and other invertebrates. It feeds mainly on the ground, but it also can perform short rising flights to take a berry in a scrub.

Olga Buravkova

seeds 50%

sprouts 25%

berries 6,25%

buds 6,25%

fruits 6,25%

insects 6,25%

Reproduction The Collared Dove nests in shrub or tree, at variable height, between 2 and 20 metres above the ground. Both adults build the nest. It is a loose platform made with coarsely woven twigs. It is common to see the eggs through the bottom, although some nests may be lined with soft grasses. But most of them are very simple. Sometimes, one or both eggs fall down to the ground. The female lays two whitish eggs. Incubation by both parents lasts about two weeks. Chicks are fed with â&#x20AC;&#x153;crop milkâ&#x20AC;? including seeds by regurgitation. The young birds leave the nest about 15 to 19 days later, and parents still feed them during one week before they become independent. This species produces several clutches per year, between three and six according to the country.

Olga Buravkova

40-60 mm

1 – 3 days

125-160 mm

25 mm

33,8 mm

3–6 clutches per year

2–20 m above the ground

Stereotype It is believed that Collared Dove is a carrier of a variety of infections, which is transmitted to other animals and sometimes to humans.

Olga Buravkova

infection

How Collared Doves observe humans. Collared Doves are able to see objects at a distance much greater than man (about 3 km). If a Collared Dove watched a feature film, 24 frames per second would appear to it like a slide presentation. They would need at least 75 frames per second to create the illusion of movement on screen. (This is why doves seem to leave it until the very last second to fly out of the way of an oncoming car: it appears much less fast to them)

Olga Buravkova

3 km

Relationship with other species Hawks, goshawk, sparrowhawk, peregrines, owls, martens, stray cats are danger to adult Collared Dove. Magpies, jays, crows, gray and black crows, kestrels, stone marten, stray cats are destroy nests with eggs, and sometimes can stole egg or nestling. But Collared Doves often form large flocks with other species of birds and visited feeders.

Olga Buravkova

owl

wood pigeon

hawk

stray cat

Rondone,Swift, Apus apus Celeste Calzolari

Biological Characteristics Common Swifts are medium-size birds, they are 15–18 cm length with a 35–40 cm wingspan and they weight 40-50 g. They present an entirely blackish-brown plumage except for a small white or pale grey patch on their chins. They have feathers of very different shapes and measures. The have a short beack with big opening, the tail is short and forked. Their thigh bone directly connected to the paw (origin of the name “apus apus”) so never touches the ground (if touches the ground its legs would not allow to fly).

Celeste Calzolari

15–18cm

30-40 cm

Habitat Swifts occur on all the continents, though not in the far north or large deserts, and on many oceanic islands. It is diffused in almost the entire Europe, Central Asia and Northern Africa. In winter season, swifts of temperate regions are strongly migratory towards the tropics. In Italy it is common to see the Swift everywhere in summer period. The Common Swift is a species that seems to have adapted surprisingly well to the man-made urban and suburban environment. They leave their natural nests in hollows of trees, cracks of walls, and under tiles of roofs and in the spaces inbetween the bricks of old buildings.

Celeste Calzolari

Time The inner circle intends to represent the idea that Common Swifts spend most of their life flying. They start flying when their wings are about 16 cm long, that is approximally after 40 days they are born. From this moment hey spend almost all the time in the air, both day and night. Since swifts spend most of the time on air, they are able to do many activities while flying such as sleeping, inbreeding, catching for food. The outer circle represent thei seasonal migration, that occurs approximately from september to march towards warmer climates.

Celeste Calzolari

Food Cycle During their flight, swift catch their food which is normally made of flying insects, crickets, small spiders, larva, maggots flies, bees. They catch about about 50 g every day during breeding, while the eat around 15 to 18 grams of insects a day.

Celeste Calzolari

Reproduction Swifts lay 2-3 eggs and breed and hatch the chicks together with their partner. They breed for about 1920 days. They build nests in rocks hollows of trees, in cracks in walls, under tiles of roofs and old buildings, in the chimneys. Swifts mate and collect nesting material on their wings. Nests are made of twigs, buds, moss, feathers, glued with its sticky saliva to the wall of a cave under the tiles of roofs and old buildings, at least at 3m from ground They use the same nest year after year, merely adding fresh material.

Celeste Calzolari

Stereotype In the collective imaginary, swifts, together with swallows and other birds represent the image of of freedom, due to the flight and the migration activities. Often such poteic ideas are paradoxically trivalized and transformed in the most conformist images, as it happens with tattoos. The image I represented is one of the most common tattoo taht you can easily find by simply In the collective imaginary, swifts, together withswallows and other birds represent the image of of freedom, due to the flight and the migration activities. Often such poteic ideas are paradoxically trivalized and transformed in the most conformist images, as it happens with tattoos. The image I represented is one of the most common tattoo taht you can easily find by simply google “freedom tattooo”. google “freedom tattooo”.

Celeste Calzolari

Perspective of Humans Although switfs have been adapting to the urban environment, in recent years there is evidence of a decrease of the number of swifts, as they find different types of obstacles for nesting. The image intends to represent this exclusion. With restoration or demolition of old buildings and their roofs, there is huge annual loss of these nesting sites. Milan presents one of the biggest urban colony of swifts in Italy, many of them leave their nests in the old buildings of the city, such as the Torre del Filarete in the Castello Sforzesco. In 2012, as the tower was being restored, the scaffolding became an impediment for the Swifts to reach the nests and feed the young birds, as it is shown in the image. Another impediment to nesting are is the fact that many cracks of walls and between tiles are closed with concrete and swifts keep on trying to go back. Furthermore, modern buildings usually made of glass and smooth and uniform surfaces tend to exclude them.

Celeste Calzolari

Relationship The image represents the different types of interaction between the swift and other animals. Swifts are commonly visible in storms, especially during the migration period, which occurs in september and march. Common swift are monogamous species and spend their entire life in couple. In relation to other species, Swifts are commonly attacked by cats or martens, while they attack small insects, such as bees for food

Celeste Calzolari

Rondone pallido, Pallid Swift, Apus pallidus Matheus Cartocci

Matheus Cartocci

apus palidus 1

Matheus Cartocci

in urbe 2a

in urbe 2b

in urbe 2c

Matheus Cartocci

the long journey 3a

the long journey 3b

the long journey 3c

Matheus Cartocci

architecturae naturalis 4

Matheus Cartocci

invisible feast 5

Stereotype Every March before spring, no matter what, comes the swift. The stones know it, the trees know it, the children know it.

Matheus Cartocci

“look mother! Spring!” 6

Perspective On The Humans Men believe they own all secrets of physical laws, natural laws.They think they are inventors and beholders of light, mass and speed. Very few know that a tiny creature like a a pallid swift flies at an average speed of 150 km/h and reaches 170 km/h when needed. It is indeed the fastest living creature on this planet Earth.

Matheus Cartocci

170 7

“hide and seek” 8

Picchio rosso maggiore, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos Alberto Ceriotti

Biological description The Barn Swallow is a passerine bird of the Hirundinae family, and is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. The barn swallow received its name because of its habit of building its nest inside agricultural buildings. It has steel blue upper parts and a rufous forehead, chin and throat, which are separated from the off-white under parts by a broad dark blue breast band. The physical characteristic that has given it notoriety is the deeply forked tail, accompanied by pointed wings. There is a line of white spots across the outer end of the upper tail. The adult male is 17-19 centimetres long, including the elongated outer tail feathers, which can reach 7 centimetres of length. The wingspan is 32-34,5 centimetres and the weight between 16 and 22 grams and changes according to the seasons. The adult female is smaller, with shorter tail streamers and less glossy coluors. The juvenile barn swallow has browner upper parts, paler rufous face, whiter under parts and no long tail streamers. The barn swallow has an enormous range, with an estimated global extent of 51,700,000 km2 and a population of 190 million individuals. The species is evaluated as Least Concern, although the number of breeding couples is swiftly decreasing in Europe, and particularly in Italy. Their reduction depends on many factors: from the global warming consequences to the industrialized agriculture. The barn swallow is easily mistaken with the house martin (Delichon Urbicum), a bird of the same Hirundinae family, which has in most cases replaced the swallow in urban areas. The house martin is smaller, with shorter tail streamers and no rufous forehead, chin and throat. Also the nest present differences.

Alberto Ceriotti

Habitat The Barn Swallow is a rural bird, accustomed to nest on and inside human agricultural buildings since ancient time. The preferred habitat of the barn swallow is open country with low vegetation, such as pasture, meadows and farmland, preferably with nearby water. The swallow avoids heavily wooded or precipitous areas and densely built-up locations. The presence of accessible open structures such as barns, stables, or culverts to provide nesting sites, and exposed locations such as wires and roof ridges for perching, are also important in the birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selection of its habitat. In Milan it nests around the cascine and in the peripheral area, where the city is less dense. The barn swallow is a migratory bird that moves from Central Africa to Europe (but it is widespread in all continents) following the rise and fall of insect populations that constitute its pray. The European habitat is the previously descripted open country, where the swallow moves in springtime to breed. The most important factor in the the breeding place selection is the availability of food; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why recent studies link the highdensity swallow colonies with the cattle farming. The presence of bovines assures an high number of insects the swallow prays on. On the other hand, in autumn, it flies back to its African habitat that is the large area south the Sahara desert, and dwell in almost every habitat except forests and deserts, favouring savannah and low vegetation meadows. The swallow usually returns every year in the same area where it was born. The problems that endanger its habitat are connected with the industrialization of agriculture: the use of pesticides and the monoculture fields cause a decrease of flying insects, while the modernization of stables and barns deprives the swallow of its favourite nesting sites.

Alberto Ceriotti

Time It is interesting to observe the dual nature of this animal’s habitat, which it lives in different times of the day and of the year. The barn swallow is a migratory bird that moves from Central Africa to Europe and back every year following the rise and fall of insect populations that constitute its pray. The swallow year is clearly divided in two strongly different seasons: spring and summer, the breeding season in Europe, autumn and winter, the change of the feathers and the warmer climate in Africa. (It has to be specified that the swallow is a species of bird widespread all over the world, which migration does not interest only Europe and Africa that are only taken as main case study.) Another interesting duality is the one between night and day. The swallow avoids densely built areas and spends the whole day in open and semiopen country to feed. But at sunset it is possible, even if not extremely frequent, to see the swallow going back to his nest built on some buildings in the outer border of the city. The urban area is never the diurnal habitat of the swallow but can be the place it goes to nest. The swallow’s average mortality rate is 70–80% in the first year of life and 40–70% for the adults. Although the record age is more than 11 years, most survive less than four years. The swallow usually returns every year in the same area where it was born and possibly to the same nest. The old nest are repaired every year and can last and be inhabited usually for more than ten years, but the record is 47 years in an exceptional case in USA.

Alberto Ceriotti

Food cycle The barn swallow is an aerial insectivore. It is not a particularly fast flier, with a speed estimated at about 20 m/s and a wing beat rate of approximately 5, times each second, but it has a great manoeuvrability. It typically feeds 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8 m above theground, often following animals, humans or farm machinery to catch disturbed insects, but it will occasionally pick prey from the water surface, walls and plants. When egg laying, barn swallows hunt in pairs, but will form often large flocks otherwise. In the breeding areas, large flies make up around 70% of the diet, with aphids also a significant component. On the wintering grounds flying ants are important food items. The high number of insects eaten by swallows, especially flies and mosquitos, are one of the reasons that make the synanthropic relation with man positive. The swallow is hunted by several falcon species, especially in Africa, where the great number of individuals, grouped in their communal winter roosts, attracts predators. Also predatory bats are known to prey on swallows. In Europe swallows are threatened by raptors and mice, which are dangerous mainly for the eggs. Finally, in some poor African regions, the swallow is eaten by man, who hunts it in its community roost. The factors that endanger the swallowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food cycle are the intensive use of pesticides (and all human actions to reduce the number of parasites and insects from agricultural fields) and the consequences due to the global climate change. In particular the hotter and dryer summers reduce the number of its pray reducing the energy stored by the bird in order to complete successfully the migration. The expansion of the Sahara desert, every year creates a more formidable obstacle to the swallow migration. The wind speed is changing too, affecting the swallowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aerial feeding.

Alberto Ceriotti

Reproduction The male barn swallow returns to the breeding grounds before the female and selects a nest site, which is then advertised to females with a circling flight and song. The breeding success of the male is related to the good position of the nest site and to the length of the tail streamers: males with longer tail feathers are generally longer-lived and more disease resistant. Once established, pairs stay together to breed for life, but extra-pair copulation is common, making this species genetically polygamous, despite being socially monogamous. Before man-made sites became common, the barn swallow nested on cliff faces or in caves, but now they nest exclusively on human buildings. Both sexes build and defend the nest, but the male is particularly aggressive and territorial. The neat cup-shaped nest is placed on a beam or against a suitable vertical projection. It is constructed with mud pellets collected in their beaks and lined with grasses, feathers, algae or other soft materials. Barn swallows may nest colonially where sufficient high-quality nest sites are available. The female lays two to seven, but typically four or five, reddish-spotted white eggs. The eggs are 20 mm x 14 mm in size, and weigh 1,9 g. In Europe, the female does almost all the incubation for a period that normally is 14â&#x20AC;&#x201C;19 days, with another 18â&#x20AC;&#x201C;23 days before the altricial chicks fledge. The fledged young stay with, and are fed by, the parents for about a week after leaving the nest. There are normally two broods, with the original nest being reused for the second brood and being repaired and reused in subsequent years. The juveniles of the second brood are less alike to survive the migration because weaker and less expert than the older brothers.

Alberto Ceriotti

Stereotypes The main stereotype connected with the swallow is the one linking this animal with the spring. This belief was born from the observation of the annual migration of this bird since ancient times. However all the proverbs in such matter go back to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: “For as one swallow or one day does not make a spring, so one day or a short time does not make a fortunate or happy man.” Stating the necessity for more than one piece of evidence. Just in Italy there are more than one proverb about swallows, for example: “San Benedetto, rondine sotto il tetto” that can be translated with “St. Benedict, a swallow under the roof” linking the first day of spring (21st of March, St. Benedict holiday) with the arrival and nesting of the swallow. The literature is rich of mentions of the swallow since it beginning, from Latin literature (Pervigilium Veneris) to T.S. Eliot (The Waste Land), from Shakespeare (Richard III, Titus Andronicus, The Winter’s Tale) to Oscar Wilde (The Happy Prince). The swallow is always presented as a positive figure, messenger of joy and good values. A swallow tattoo is popular amongst nautical men as a symbol of a safe return; the tradition was that a mariner had a tattoo of this fellow wanderer after sailing 5,000 nautical miles, the same amount a swallow flies every year to migrate. The only exception to the general positive image attributed to the swallow is the negative meaning given in heraldry where it represents younger sons who have no lands.

Alberto Ceriotti

Perspective of Humans The swallow has a perception on man characterized by the aerial observation. As all the species of its family (and also of the different family of the swift) it is an aerial insectivore and this particular strategy of feeding seldom implies the landing. Even if the swallow is capable of landing on the ground and take off without problems, while the swift cannot, it prefers high observation points, and above all electricity wires, for perching. Therefore the visual and the vision of man are strictly from above. The constant presence on this horizontal border prevent the creation of a direct relationship with man, whose distance is only reduced near the nest, where the physical distance can be actually smaller, even if still characterized by a top-down sight. The nesting site can be the key to understand the perspective the swallow has on man. It has a real relation more with man-made constructions than with man itself. As all animals do, the swallow lives in proximity of man for utilitarian reasons, it is not wrong to imagine a swallow seeing a man only as his house and his cattle. For centuries the swallow has developed a synantropic relation with man especially in agricultural areas up to becoming highly relied on man activity. The human growth has at the beginning favoured the swallow diffusion indeed, providing more ideal habitats through deforestation and more nesting site through the construction of buildings but the never ending erosion of agricultural land in favour of urban and densely built areas is now, together with many other factors, causing a steady decrease of its population especially in Italy.

Alberto Ceriotti

Relation with other species The swallow is a social bird, inside its species often groups to form nesting colonies or flocks. The constitution of extremely numerous flocks is typical of the winter season, when they live in common roosts counting thousands of individuals. In Europe the flocks are formed mainly to organize the autumnal migration to Africa. The relation with other animals is less conflicting in Europe than in Africa. Their main relation is with human that can provide nesting sites and food through buildings and livestock, in particular cattle farming. As shown by recent researches made by Milano-Bicocca University, in the Po plain there is a strong relation between the diffusion of cattle farming and the presence of swallows. Several studies have indeed demonstrated that swallow colonies are larger in farms where cattle are reared and have declined markedly after cessation of cattle farming. Although it is still unknown whether this association holds at spatial scales larger than individual farms. The relation with cows and similar livestock is based on the presence of insects attracted by these animals. In the North hemisphere the swallow has few predators, mainly species of falcon, but since the swallowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population is rather widespread on the territory without forming particularly large colonies, the concentration of habitual predators is not very high. On the other hand, in Africa, the swallowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relation with other animals is much more conflicting. The swallow groups in larger flocks, as it was said before, and this high concentration of individuals indeed attracts many predators, mostly raptor birds: the African hobby and the peregrine falcon are two of the most common animals that pray on swallows. During the night predatory bats such as the greater false vampire bat threaten the swallow in its roost.

Alberto Ceriotti

Rondine, Swallow, Hirundo rustica Lorenzo Ceccon

Description The Great Spotted Woodpecker (or Greater Spotted Woodpecker), Dendrocopos major Linnaeus, 1758, is a bird species of the woodpecker family (Picidae). The Great Spotted Woodpecker is 23–26 cm long, with a 38–44 cm wingspan. The upperparts are glossy black, with white on the sides of the face and neck. A black line zigzags from the shoulder halfway across the breast (in some subspecies nearly meeting in the center), then back to the nape; a black stripe, extending from the bill, runs below the eye to meet this latter part of the zigzag line. On the shoulder is a large white patch and the flight feathers are barred with black and white. The three outer tail feathers are barred; these show when the short stiff tail is outspread, acting as a support in climbing. The underparts are dull white, the abdomen and undertail coverts crimson. The bill is slate black and the legs greenish grey. Males have a crimson spot on the nape, which is absent in females and juvenile birds. In the latter, the top of the head is crimson between the bill and the center of the crown instead. Despite its contrasting plumage, the Great Spotted Woodpecker is often an inconspicuous bird. The large white shoulder patch is the feature that most easily catches the eye. When hidden by the foliage, its presence is often advertised by the mechanical drumming, a vibrating rattle, produced by the rapidly repeated blows of strong bill upon a trunk or branch. This is not a dedicated courtship call or challenge, but a signal of either sex to announce its presence. It is audible from a great distance, depending on the wind and the condition of the wood, a hollow bough naturally producing a louder note than living wood. The call is a sharp “quet, quet”. Significantly, the scientific name “Dedrocopos” derives from ancient Greek “déndron” = tree and “kópos” = hit, percussion. A very effective shock-absorption system is embedded in its head, so that the brain does not get injured by the (proportionally) great forces applied to the trees through the beak. The Great Spotted Woodpecker has several living subspecies. The paleosubspecies D. m. submajor lived during the Middle Pleistocene Riss glaciation (250,000 to 300,000 years ago); it was found in Europe south of the ice sheet.

Lorenzo Ceccon

Habitat The Great Spotted Woodpecker is distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia, and usually resident year-round except in the colder parts of its range. It is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN, being widely distributed and quite common. The Great Spotted Woodpecker has several living subspecies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 12,000,000-18,000,000 breeding pairs, equating to 36,000,000-54,000,000 individuals (BirdLife International 2004). Europe forms 25-49% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 73,500,000-216,000,000 individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed. National population estimates include: c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and < c.1,000 individuals on migration in China; c.100-100,000 breeding pairs in Korea; c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and < c.50 individuals on migration in Japan and c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and < c.1,000 individuals on migration in Russia. In Europe, trends since 1980 show that populations have undergone a moderate increase (p<0.01)â&#x20AC;? (http://www.birdlife. org/datazone/species/factsheet/22681124/additional, passim). Tree cavities are used by a wide variety of species for nesting, food storage, and cover. Nesting trees chosen by this woodpecker almost invariably have soft heartwood and tough sapwood, often due to parasites or diseases that weaken the heartwood only. It is unknown how the Dendrocopos major finds suitable trees, though it is entirely possible that they do so by drumming, making use of the different speed of sound in materials with differing elastic modulus and density. Tree species that are rarely or never used for nesting might simply not have wood with the required properties. Most studies on cavity availability have been conducted in forests, and little is known about urban areas. With urbanization, species that excavate cavities may be less abundant, natural tree-decay processes are managed, and tree densities are reduced, all of which may influence tree-cavity availability. Cavities are most available in forests, where the density of trees is highest. It was found that a similar proportion of trees in forests and parks had excavated cavities.

Lorenzo Ceccon

Temporality SEASONALITY. The Great Spotted Woodpecker is usually resident year-round except in the colder parts of its territorial range. Therefore, some degree of “mild migration” is present. Moreover, some data sets seem to suggest that in winter local-migrations happen towards anthropized areas (cities), probably due to the heat island and food availability. Overall, its behavioural pattern do not chance drastically as regards the season and the climatic conditions. This bird remains active throughout the year, but it manages to adapt and exploit what the relevant year period is offering. This thus imply that some dietary changes occur: more specifically, during spring-summer it is easier to find abundant insects on the tree trunks, under the cortex, and the bird can live mostly on, in and around his (territorial) tree(s) and nourish itself with “neighbouring” insects (and occasionally with other species’ eggs). In winter, when insects are less frequent to be found, the bird tends to adapt to eating more nuts, as well as (possibly human) food remains, and even flesh of big dead animals. As for many other species, spring is the time for mating and building the family: it is in this period – when food is widely available and weather condition mild – that the male is particularly audible, since his drumming has an (apparently) strong sexual appeal. DAY/NIGHT BEHAVIOUR. Woodpeckers are diurnal, roosting at night inside holes. In most species the roost will become the nest during the breeding season. Being a daylight bird, it tends to interact with the animal word which is active daytime as well. It is a common experience hearing the sound of its drumming and digging during the day, while the roost/nest offers an (apparently) cosy repair during nighttime and difficult weather conditions.

Lorenzo Ceccon

Food Cycle The Great Spotted Woodpecker has a varied diet changing with the seasons. During spring and summer it feeds largely on insects, especially ants and the larvae of wood-boring beetles. Holes may be chiselled up to four inches deep. Insects are usually hidden under bark or in dead wood, especially the larvae of longhorn beetles. It also take tree seeds and birds’ eggs, often hammering their way into a nest box occupied by a brood of tits. It brings such food also to its offspring when not yet independent. In autumn and winter – when insects are comparatively less abundant – it switches to a variety of fruits, seeds and nuts. Unwieldy nuts and pinecones are placed in clefts and hammered open with the bill. Particular trees are selected and the remains of food may be found scattered below these “anvil” trees. Some anvils have been used for years. Climate and weather conditions do have an impact on what this bird eats, and it has been documented that in some cases the bird has eaten dead animals – even of big size – and some human food remains. This suggests that this woodpecker may be more adaptable then it may seem at a first glance.

Lorenzo Ceccon

Reproduction As to the reproductive sphere, the Great Spotted Woodpecker is considered to be a monogamous animal as many of the Picidae family, which choses a mate with whom to inhabit its “proprietary” territory, care about the nest and in particular feed the offspring, in turn. Territorial and sexual drumming (on trees) can be heard as mid-February and continues through to early May and occasionally much later. Several pairs breed in woodlands at wilderness reserves. The noise draws attention to their activities also when they are excavating their nest-holes, but they can be very secretive when laying and incubating. As soon as the chicks hatch, however, they start a continuous racket which carries on throughout daylight hours for the three weeks that they are in the nest, intensifying whenever they hear a parent (male or female, in turn) returning with a beakful of food. Both adults excavate the hole they use as nest, usually in March and April. They use a new nest each year, and they excavate the hole during one or two weeks, according to the hardness of the wood. The chamber of the nest is about 30 cm deep, and the entrance is oval-shaped, at about 4 metres above the ground. The chamber is lined with wood chips. Female lays 4 to 7 white eggs, between mid-May and early June. Incubation lasts about 16 days, by female during the day, and by male at night. Chicks hatch altricial, and both parents feed them. They fledge at about 18 to 21 days of age. They reach their sexual maturity at one year. Adults keep the nest clean, removing the chick’s droppings. Young are very noisy. Adults remain in nearly area while chicks are in the nest. This species produces only one brood per year.

Lorenzo Ceccon

How we see them The way we look at woodpeckers has not been uniform through ages, geographies and even within one sole cultural and geographical social system. Overall, it seems that in the ancient world the attitude was more uniformly positive. ANCIENT WORLD. As to ancient times in Italy, we can recall some myths which may help us better understand the importance tribute to this animal. To start with, according to a legend – besides the famous she-wolf – a bird of this family of the Picidae has helped nourishing and taking care of the twins Romulus and Remus, the former being the future founder of Rome. The bird was allegedly sacred to the God of war Mars(/Ares), occupying a primary position in the Roman pantheon. Furthermore, the “Piceni” – a central- Italian population of the pre-Romanized peninsula – was named thereafter (the family of the bird being the “Picidae”). Probably woodpecker decisiveness in defending its territory, the care in feeding and protecting its offspring and the red colour, taken as a symbol of fire (i.e. a facet of power), caused this myths to arise. MODERN WORLD. It looks it is less monolithic the perception of these animals in the modern and contemporary era. On one side – besides the a priori defence by animalists – in the popular culture, especially for kids, it has been portrayed as an innocuous, funny and cool animal. The Woodpecker Toy – a wood and metal toy for little kids mimicking the tree-drumming of the bird – is one clear example thereof. Similarly, the “Woody Woodpecker” cartoon, portraying this bird as clever and funny can be seen as another evidence of a positive attitude in the (at least “Western”) culture. However, the possible damages this animal may cause to not only trees but also to man-made artefacts and buildings – where it may try to find food or dig a nest – as well as the quite noisy drumming activity contributes to some attempts to keep the woodpecker away from private properties, as shown in “manuals” on this very topic, where the animal is portrayed as a little trespasser or even as a potential “criminal” to be stopped.

Lorenzo Ceccon

How they see us It can be argued that the way woodpeckers see us is basically twofold. On the one hand – see the lower picture – they may feel hemmed in and threatened by our expanding spatial occupation, especially as regards both soil consumption and glazed facades, the former destroying the needed habitat continuity (woods and wilderness) and the latter constituting and impermeable, hard and hazardous membrane for all birds. On the other hand – as in the upper picture – they may see us as curious and possibly tender animals, behaving and dressing in very diverse fashions: in the presented picture, for instance, it can be clearly identified (from the bird’s nest) a social group of old human fellows concentrated on a slowmotion game, dressed in non-shiny colours, as well as a colourful-dressed (almost like a bird) and fast-paced lonely human runner, focussed on his own path. In sum, looking at us, the woodpecker may be probably best described as “dazed and confused”.

Lorenzo Ceccon

Coexistence AMONG THEMSELVES AND OTHER ANIMALS. The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a territorial animal, potentially aggressive towards its own fellow woodpeckers. Fights – even if usually not deadly – therefore happen, and quite violently. Territorial fights may happen with many other species, even with snakes wishing to make use of woodpeckers’ holes for their own benefit. Similarly, it competes and fights against other birds and animals more in general (such as squirrels) for securing food, and it is a common use of theirs to even predate other birds’ eggs as a major source of food. Other animals of much larger size can even become a reserve of food during hard winters, if found dead and without other dangerous predators. WITH HUMANS. As to the relationship with humans – in line with the ambiguous valence the bird nowadays holds in our culture – there are examples of both positive and negative relationships. As to the former, the installation of feeding machines, the care of veterinaries, animalists, environmentalists and the respect of bird-watchers are all clear examples of mankind making woodpeckers’ life easier. Synanthropic behaviours – as the predation of human wastefood or the digging of nests in man-made structures – is another example thereof, as well as the trend towards winter short-range migration towards towns, probably also in view of exploiting the “heat island”. However, the annoyances brought by these birds in terms of noise and hole-digging activities bring humans to behaviours targeted at keeping them away from the human sphere, such as nets, use of fake-predators and alike. Among the involuntary threats to these animals we can certainly ascribe traffic and, above all, deforestation, as it is the case with the animal realm in general. However, this animal is not really suffering in terms of counted number, and apparently the overall balance in the relationship with the humans is more positive than negative.

Lorenzo Ceccon

Balestruccio, House Martin, Delichon urbicum Maria Chiello

Biological characteristics The adult common house martin is 13 centimetres long, with a wing span of 26â&#x20AC;&#x201C;29 centimetres and a weight averaging 18 g. It is steel-blue above with a white rump, and white underparts, including the underwings; even its short legs have white downy feathering. It has brown eyes and a small black bill, and its toes and exposed parts of the legs are pink. The sexes are similar, but the adult female has greyer underparts while the juvenile bird is sooty black, some of its wing coverts and quills have white tips and edgings and the tail is shorter. The Common House Martin soars for long periods. It is a good flier, able to dive, climb, glide, hover and spiral when chasing fast-flying insects. It flies swiftly with frequent turning and banking. It performs strong, rapid wing-beats, averaging 5.3 beats per second. The common house martin is a noisy species, especially at its breeding colonies. The maleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s song, given throughout the year, is a soft twitter of melodious chirps. The contact call, also given on the wintering grounds, is a hard chirrrp, and the alarm is a shrill tseep. They are colonial nesters, with an average group size of four to five nests, although large colonies with groups of tens or even hundreds of nests are sometimes reported.

Maria Chiello

Delichon urbicum

Habitat The adult common house martin is 13 centimetres lThe house martin breeds across temperate Eurasia east to central Mongolia and in Morocco, Tunisia and northern Algeria, and migrates to winter in sub-Saharan Africa. Traditionally its preferred habitat was open country and it used to build its mud nest on cliff faces. By the 19th century it started making use of buildings and the traditional nest sites had been all but abandoned by early 1900s in favour of close association with people, which allowed the birds to exploit urban areas. House martins build nests on outer walls of buildings under the eaves and exceptionally they can be found inside roofs or in sheds. Nests are built at the junction of a vertical and an overhanging surface and are often clustered together with entrances about 8-10 centimetres apart. House martins do not often settle on the ground except when collecting pelts of almost liquid mud for nest construction, they spend much of their time on the wing collecting insect prey.

Maria Chiello

1905, via Senato

March

October

Temporality The adult common house martin is 13 centimetres The House Martin breeds in Europe and north Africa from March to October and winters in sub-Saharan Africa. While much in known about its breeding ecology, its migration routes and wintering ranges remain a mystery. This is partly because the species is rarely seen in the non-breeding season, with relatively few observed in Africa compared to the millions that can be easily seen in Europe. This has led to speculation that they might spend long periods of time feeding at high altitude, perhaps above the rainforest, where they can go unnoticed. They migrate in flocks of several hundreds of thousands and after hovering and gliding together over the cities, they leave our skies empty until spring is back.

Maria Chiello

December

Breeding House Martin are colonial nesters and nests are made of pellets of mud mixed with grass, lined with feathers and vegetable fibre. The birds collect pellets of wet mud near water, from ponds and streams, and add them little by little, in successive layers, until to form a cup with a narrow top entrance. The interior is often lined with grass and soft materials. The breeding season runs from May to August when insects are abundant, but some chicks are still in the nest in September. Copulation between mates occurs inside the nest, after a short invitation display. The male attracts the female by calling and following her. When she perches, it approaches and sings. Other males try to enter nests in order to copulate with the resident female. For this reason, the paired male performs â&#x20AC;&#x153;mate-guardingâ&#x20AC;? until the clutch is laid. Then, it may attempt to copulate with other females. Four or five white eggs are laid at daily intervals, sometimes delayed by bad weather. Both sexes incubate for 14-16 days, and the chicks hatch together. The female broods them for a week, while they are naked and unable to maintain their own body temperature. Both parents feed them and they fledge between 22 and 32 days after hatching, depending on the number of chicks and weather conditions. The young return to the nest for roosting during several days, and the adults feed them for some days more, then they often help their parents feed a second brood.

Maria Chiello

Breeding

Feeding The House Martin typically feeds higher in the air, and takes smaller prey than other swallows. It is believed that this reduces inter-specific food competition, particularly with the barn swallow which shares much of the breeding and wintering range of the martins. The insects eaten are mostly small flies, aphids and Hymenoptera such as winged ants. A wide range of other insects are caught, and the common House Martin sometimes feeds also on the ground. These martins are gregarious, feeding in flocks and they can fly for hours while hunting, up to 2 kilometers away from their nest. The start of egg laying appears to be linked to the appearance of large numbers of flying aphids, which provide a stable and abundant food supply. House Martins take a crucial role in mantaining the natural equilibrium of insects and protecting our environment: it is astonishing to know that a single couple of birds hunts up to 20000 insects during breeding season.

Maria Chiello

Feeding

How we consider it Although the House Martin has been inhabiting our cities for decades, and its nature is strictly related to the urban contest, it is not even closely as famous as its relative, the swallow. In the common mentality the two birds are not distinguished: on the contrary they are perceived as one single entity, associated to the arrival of spring. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, By his loved mansionry, that the heavenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breath Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed, and procreant cradle: Where they most breed and haunt, I have observâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d The air is delicate. Shakespeare Macbeth, I, vi, 3-10

Maria Chiello

D. Mazzoni

How they see us “Milano XXI secolo” Giovanni Dradi, 2013, 72x102 cm

Maria Chiello

Milano, Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye view

Relation with other species Swallows, House Martins and Swifts are passerine birds which are considered very similar and are very often not distinguished by people. However they have different shapes and are characterized by the colours and the tails. They belong to different families and they have different behaviours. Swallows and House Martins come from the Hirundinidae family, while Swifts are considered Apodinidae. One of the most interesting differences among their habits cencern their flight behaviour. Swifts fly in wide arcs and straight lines and they usually feed well above the rooftops. Swallows sweep fast and low, rarely flying much above rooftop level, except during migration. House Martins usually catch their food at higher levels than Swallos, but do so with a more fluttery, weak-looking flight: their flight path describes a scribble in the sky, with many changes in direction. Even though they all eat aerial insects, they never run counter to one another because of this differentiation in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;levelsâ&#x20AC;? of the city they live.

Maria Chiello

Levels of belonging

Ballerina bianca, White Wagtail, Motacilla alba Wanru Chu

Biometrics The white wagtail,also known as pied wagtail, is instantly recognizable thanks to its distinctive black and white plumage, loud tsli-vitt call, and characteristic habit of constantly bobbing the tail, hence the common name â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wagtailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; .Normally,the length of this bird is between 16.5cm to 19cm,and the wingspan is between 25cm to 30cm, the weight of male is in between 20-24.5g,and of female is in between 17.5-22g. The adult male in breeding has black and white head. The forehead, cheeks are white. Chin and throat are black, as the rear crown, the nape and the neck. On the upperparts, mantle and scapulars to uppertail-coverts are grey. The upperwing shows greyish, black and white pattern .The long tail shows black central with finely edged white. The outer two pairs are white. And the tail is similar in length to the wings. On the underparts, following chin and throat, breast is black too and The eyes are blackish-brown. Legs and feet are black. The adult female in breeding is slightly different has gray-black crown grading to gray nape and narrower forehead band. In non-breeding period, the chin, throat and even breast are white with some black mottling for both sex.

Wanru Chu

25 cm -30

Flying Path:

tslee-wee

tslee-v

tsle e-

wee

-v tslee

tslee-wee I w a nt t o t a k e a colorful photo!

gray-black crown grading to gray nape

narrower forehead

white chin,throat, part of breast

NON-BREEDING

17.5-22g

BREEDING

20-24.5g

16.5-19cm

Habitat The White Wagtail is mostly an aquatic bird, lives a wide variety of open wet and dry habitats such as seashores, upland rivers and slow-moving lowland rivers, and lakeshores. But this species is also found in cultivated areas, urban parks and gardens,roosting in trees, and in the vicinity of towns and cities, due to its adaptability to various types of habitats including close to human settlements where it can take household scraps. In addition, this species can breed from lowlands to high mountains (up to 5000 metres of elevation in the Himalayas).

Wanru Chu

8844.43m

5000m

Temporality The White Wagtail can be resident or migratory according to the range. Most northern populations migrate south to Mediterranean area, tropics and subtropics of Africa; India and south-east Asia. Autumn passage occurs across entire length of Mediterranean. The races living in mountains mainly perform altitudinal movements. Passage of Icelandic birds (nominate alba) through Britain and Ireland occurs mostly August-October. In southern Finland, passage begins late August and peaks mid-September with only stragglers in October. In Switzerland, autumn departure generally begins c. 10 September, peaks mid-October, but continues regularly well into December. Return movement in spring is early. Arrival of nominate alba over wide areas of central Europe may be as early as February but mainly March-April, while arrival in southern Scandinavia is late March and in northern Scandinavia around mid-April. On Fair Isle, passage may start mid-March, but is usually early April to early May.

Wanru Chu

Sub-tropics

Tropics

Sub-tropics

Native nesting Rare/Occasional Doubtful presence

Diet The White Wagtail feeds on numerous small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. from coleopterans, damselflies, dipterans (adults and larvae), isopterans and hymenopterans, to spiders, small snails, crustaceans and worms. It also takes household scraps. It catches insects on the ground after a short pursuit, but also on the wing. It pursues the prey with rapid undulating flight, or by short hovering before to hawk it. On the ground, this bird hunts by walking and exploiting all types of surfaces, from roads to roofs and other open areas. But the white wagtail can be eaten by some kind of snakes and egals.

Wanru Chu

Reproduction During the breeding season,which is generally from April to July, five or six dark-speckled, pale gray eggs are laid in a nest made of grasses, rootlets, and leaves . Incubation ranges from 11 to 16 days, fledging from 11 to 16 days and is carried out by both parents.The nest is a cup in rock or wall cavity, or in dense shrubbery; often near settlements. built by both sexes in hole or in crevice in the riverbank, or in wall or bridge, amongst ivy, or beneath stones and also in buildings, beneath roof tiles.

Wanru Chu

Jul

Trees

Stones

Sep

Apr

Riverbank

Oct

Mar

Jue

Dec

Jan

Fe b

3 cluthches per year

Ivys

Wall

Roof tiles

Stereotype The white wagtail is popular among farmers because of its pest-killer’s characteristic. This kind of birds are also widespread in China, and dates back to the ancient times in China. Poets were love to write poems about it. It is recorded in the first poetry book<SHIJING> as a metphor of the brotherhood. The white wagtail keeping bobbing its tail up and down and singing when flying.They will utter if one bird is missing or lost behind the group during immigration.All these characteristic are simaliar to the brothers looking after each other,which makes the white wagtail a metaphor of brothers loving each other. Since then, the white wagtail appears in the poems often in express of the brotherhood.The most famous story is that Hsüan-tsung, more commonly known as Emperor Ming-huang, was often praised for his love for his brothers. Once, thousands of white wagtails came to perch near his palace and his ministers took this as an auspicious sign of his benevolent reign and love of his people. Emperor Ming-huang even wrote a poem for this, and it’s the only handwriting preserved today. I think it is very beautiful, not only beacuse it’s a good bird eats pests, but also for it’s aesthetic value. And thanks to the strong adaptability, i guess myabe someday they will replace the pegions in Duomo.

Wanru Chu

E G A L I A T G A W E T I H W A

詩經·小雅·常棣脊令在原，兄弟急难 “ ”

”

幼學瓊林·卷二·兄弟類患難相顧，似鶺鴒之在原 “

How they see us All the creatures in the world would prefer to live in a natural environment, even for human, but at the very beginning, human need to develop and some of them might get greedy and destroyed the habitate of other species.The white wagtail may hate human beings for ruining their habitate ,made them homeless. But nowadays, more and more people pay more attention for animals and nature. Buildings such as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;vertical forestâ&#x20AC;? is a good start for the relation for human and animals. To some degree, it is a sign showing to the birds that we want to make friends with them, also, since our attitude towards the white wagtail is nicer, they will start to get along well with us and take us as their friends.

Wanru Chu

Destroyed our home!!! I hate you!!! Oh! they are reaching out to us!....um, maaaaybe they are not that bad, perhaps we can be friends!

Coexistence In the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world, everything is possible by their evolution and adaptability to the environment. The white wagtail is mostly an acquatic bird. while the water is the basic element for every living creature. Lots of animals live within the water surroundings. They share the habitate, take what they need from the nature, desipte sometimes they might fight for the food. Another circumstance is that people take animals as friends nowadays ,they pet them, so the pressure for animals to hunt is lighten. As a result, they coexist happily.

Wanru Chu

Scricciolo, Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes Alberto Contu

The King of Birds The Eagle and the Wren. The Eagle and the Wren once tried who could fly highest, and the victor was to be King of the Birds. So the Wren flew straight up, and the Eagle flew in great circles, and when the Wren was tired he settled on the Eagle’s back. When the Eagle was tired he stopped, and-“Where art thou, Wren?” said the Eagle. “I am here above thee,” said the Wren. And so the Wren won the match. Despite an old Celtic tale elects the wren as King, in the reality this tiny ball-shaped bird is probably not such “kingly”. The wrens are brown birds with dark barring on their wings, tails, and ventral surfaces, and have an average size of less than 10 centimetres. They have a light stripe just above their eyes and their throats are lighter than the rest of their bodies. They have a narrow bill and a short tail which usually points upward. Winter wrens have round, short wings which require less effort and room to suddenly take off or stop and are easier to maneuver within obstacles. Juveniles are darker than adults and the sexes look the same, although they can be distinguished during the breeding season by the presence of either a brood patch (female) or a cloacal protuberance (male).

Alberto Contu

Super Wren Bross Wrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s habitat comprehend a huge variety of different environments, from deciduous wood to big towns. What is interesting is the way they interact with it. Male wrens are solitary and establish their own territory, with a dimension which change a lot because of the context (with an average territory size of 8000 to 12000m2). Feeding in the ground, there they with mouse-like movements, jumping from a place to another and climbing to maximum hight of about four meters only to escape inside their nests or find a site where to make they call easier to hear, avoiding the degradation of the signal. Indeed, if due to their dimension and tipe of movement they are really hard to see, on the other hand they songs are pretty much recognizable. Male winter wrens use song to establish and maintain their territories. Their songs are variable and fast, using between 15 and 40 notes per second, and the entire song lasts 5 to 10 seconds. They are impressively loud. Winter wrens use ten times as much power to deliver their songs as roosters would if they weighed the same amount. Singing is most important just before and after dawn. This is the time when intruding males will attempt to steal territory so a defending male must be ready to meet his challenger with a song.Dominance is determined by who sings the best songs. Females listen to these contests and, if they like the intruderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s song, they may sneak off afterward and seek extra-pair copulations.

Alberto Contu

Nestris Breeding season is mid-March to mid-August. Males either return each year to their previous breeding territory or remain on site year-round. Males in poor territories generally only keep one mate, but males in better areas use to be polygamous. Males establish territories by singing and displaying and they defend these territories very aggressively against intruding males. Familiarity with their sites allows them to know the best places for resources and food. They build several nests on their territories, which can be used for shelter or by a mate forming a nest. Males build up to twelve nests, but average six. Males initially attract females with songs. When a female arrives, the male will give her a tour of all the cock nests in his territory. Females typically examine several nests before choosing and when a female chooses one, she will settle in and provide the nest with feathers and hair to make it suitable for brooding. Polygamous males continue to try to at tract females while his established mate or mates try to raise their broods. Males can have up to 9 mates, with average of three or four. Males build nests (called cock nests) of anything they find, including moss, feathers, twigs and grass. They often build it in a hole which may have been dug by the wren or found almost everywhere, from a treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trunk to buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wall. This fact is where wrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scientific denomination (troglodytes, literally cave dweller) came from.

Alberto Contu

Troglodotch After settling in to a nest site, females produce about 5 to 7 eggs, which are white with reddish brown spots. The reason why males wren use to be polygamous and female are so much prolific is to avoid extinction during strong winter. In fact, although in some particular area of the north of the Globle the wrens are forced to migrate, they usually are not migrator. As a consequence, also beacause of their dimension, very cold winter may be extremely harmful for this tiny bird. Juvenile survival, in the first year, is around 20-30%. Considering that the age of sexual or reproductive maturity is one year, the adult survival rate is around 30% and the typi cal lifespan is 2 years, the figure is surely critical. Nevertheless, due to their prolific behaviour, wrens are not an endangered species and wrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population is proceeding with an up-ward trend. Consequently to their troubled relation to temperature, they are used as indicators of changing climate, for instance in the UK where there is an extremely huge population.

Alberto Contu

Pac-Wren However, in addition to climate, wrens have to protect from predators. Domestic cats, which are ubiquitous anywhere humans exist, are major predators of native animals, including winter wrens. Northern harriers eat adult wrens. Nests are preyed on by many animals, including crows and jays and weasels. Interestingly, crows and jays destroy empty nests in addition to ones containing eggs or nestlings. Winter wrens have a few adaptations to counteract possible attacks by predators or nest parasites. Cryptic coloration makes them and their nests hard to find, and their habit of building several nests makes the real nest harder to locate. On the other hand, they appear to be not sociable with the other animals. Furthermore, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting to note that wrens are subject to nest parasitism. They also avoid nesting near established nests, but despite these countermeasures, cuckoos heavily parasitize them.

Alberto Contu

City Invaders Winter wrens are insectivores that eat a wide variety of invertebrate prey. They hunt for food on the ground. In addition to insects and their larvae, they also regularly consume millipedes and spiders. If they are in riparian areas they may prey on aquatic invertebrates. Their small size allows them to forage in places where other insectivorous birds cannot successfully forage. Moreover, their food habits permit them to feed and survive in a large variety of environment without too much effort. Finally, it is worth noting that wrens are highlighted to be pretty much useful and effective in controlling pest populations in areas of human habitation.

Alberto Contu

If cabinet had eyes... In Italy, the word scricciolo (the italian for wren) is used almost exclusively as a pet-name to names kids and little sweet persons, so that many people do not even know that scricciolo is actually an animal. As a consequence, it is possible to assume that, in Italyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular culture, the wren is reduced to a stereotypical adjective. But what would it happen if we changed the perspective? Probably the wren looks at humans as they are weird and tormenting animals. Probably the wren associates humans to confused, chaotic and full of light places. Probably the wren feels scared by humans excited eyes, smiles and faces, that we have when we look at it. Probably the wren feels considered as a game.

Alberto Contu

Pettirosso, Robin, Erithacus rubecula Francesca Da Pozzo

Biological description Towards the end of March, I went with some friends for a walk outside the city, to explore some nice wooods at high altitude. I was a bit away from the group to go to photograph some sights; I just pulled out my camera, trying to to focus on, when suddenly a flurry of claws, feathers and twittering has lashed out at the orange scarf with whom I tied my hair. Startled, I turned: a robin wao looking at me with the air between the angry and disappointed, I was mistaken for an intruder! Between an excuse and a chat we became friends, me and Mrs. Robin. Of course, now I could begin to describe the robin as a small passerine 16 g 14 cm long, belonging to the family Turdidae according to some, or to the .... according to others, with a lively red color on the chest contrasting with a brown back ... but instead I will tell you all the gossip and highly confidential informations that I was personally told by Mrs. Robin. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start by saying that when Mrs Robin discovered the name by which we call her and those like her, she replied, very annoyed, that the name is doubly wrong: first, the chest is orange, not red; secondly itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not nly the breast to be colored, but also the face. I also pointed out that, contrary to what everyone thinks, the male and the female does not have visible differences and the similarities go far beyond the aspect of behavior because females do what tipically only a male does: singing and defending the territory. Robin belongs to that category of songbirds, but the amazing thing is that in this species the females are also singing. And every moment is good to try their hand at this art, doth in winter or spring, day or night.While i was speaking with Mrs. Robin, I noticed how should be stressful to defend the territory: she was lokking everywhere, jumping here and there and swelled her chest, ready to attack any orange spot moved in the neighborhood. But you have to recognize that males are often the most aggressive ones: it seems they fight even to the death in order to defend their territory ... luckily that small and young robins have a dark complexion, and no red spot, or probably would watch at numerous family clashes.

Francesca Da Pozzo

Habitat Mrs. robin admitted their overwhelming obsession with the territory, but she also recalled that her species has a very good quality: can easily adapt to different environments. Just a little over two months ago, she and many of his peers spent a long time in the city, like every year. They styed in Milan, one of the closest-to-reach starting from the mountains. Of course life in the city is very different from that in the woods, much more chaotic, but obviously offers also many advantages. First of all, you can find a lot of bushes or low trees, which the robins love so much. Our small private gardens are a haven for more than welcoming these birds, which are a low vegetation and often small houses specially built for them and others like it, but as always, the concept of sharing is not in their nature. Our small private gardens are like heaven for these birds, which find there vegetation and often small houses specially built for them and the others birds, but the concept of sharing is not in their nature. Since wooden houses and private gardens are immediately overbooking, Mrs Robin confirmed to me that the new trend is to lurk on the thick ivy growing on the walls of the houses: between the plots of these climbing plants, many robins find the perfect place for rest and to be protected from cold and predators. When she misses his beloved woods, or just want to get away from the noise and stress of the city, Mrs Robin moves to smaller public gardens, such as the Guastalla, or larger, as Sempione Park and the gardens of Via Palestro, or even fly into real parks just outside Milan, as Forlanini Park.

Francesca Da Pozzo

Feeding But, after all, she doesn’t feel too often the need to be in large suburban parks, she likes the city life: you can always find a few berries to eat on the trees or a few crumbs here and there. Perhaps the best memories in the city are those of a winter spent mostly in the garden of a little pink house: she went there for chance, on a rainy day she took shelter in a jar upside down under a hedge; shortly after it was spotted by one of our “puppies” that had begun to bring all kinds of food: seeds, raisins, cheese, and strange sweet bread that Mrs. Robin still can not forget ... the panettone!! Since that time, every day at the same time the “puppy” left her his banquet and she didn’t miss the appointment. She confessed me that she had put on a lot of pounds, but during the winter they are more than fine! But it was not all plain sailing, animal life is never easy: one day she was eating with enthusiasm her crumbs, when, raising her big brown eyes she found herself face to face with a huge cat, which was running to her licking his chops ....she was able to fly away, never be scared like that. In the the forest she must pay attention to more dangerous animals than a big cat: the foxes are always around, the weasels transform sleep in restless nights, not to mention the birds of prey, which jump down exactly when you’re making a well-deserved snack after a busy hunt to the caterpillar in the soil. Yes, when she returns from the city she always on diet, for the dress rehearsal: only insects rich in protein!

Francesca Da Pozzo

Temporality But her attention to the weight is short, since starting in the early spring months, when she returnes in the woods, begins to lay eggs and then take care of her chicks together with her partner, (who at that time was just looking for food to feed the expectant mother). Summer is not for a holiday, ad it is for us humans, not at all! Because of the chicks, always asking for food, and small quarrels with her mate, Mrs. Robin ttold me she always misses her sigle life, totally alone... Around October, once the chicks are grown up and the temperatures are lower, the couple split for good, not even with too many regards, and everyone heads for lowest altitudes and a bit warmer temperatures, such as those in the city. Despiteone goes to the city to look for a bit of peace, Mrs Robin sayd that during winter all her fellows inevitably end up almost in the big cities: it is really easy to spot a robin, to be honest it seems in this season these birds multiply the urban environment. In this regard the Mrs. Robin told me a funny story: it seems that Aristotle was convinced that in the fall the redstart from turning in a robin; twittering with laughter, she explained to me that the explanation behind this winter multiplication is simple: many birds migrate to Africa, the fall of the leaves makes the robins much more visible and many northern European robins migrate to the warmer Italy. Oh yeah! Because, annoyed as always, she told me that not only Italian robins come to the town: Milan is often too crowded with tourists, and in the sky you can hear chirping in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and even English!

Francesca Da Pozzo

Interaction Well, from what I understood the robins do not like company of any of the other birds. Mrs Robin told me that in the city it happen to find some of these which are really insistent: one day, for example, she stopped to pick up a few crumbs on the sidewalk, in front of which was parked in front of one of those big boxes that we humans use to go fast and to make noise. As soon as he had settled she noticed that another strange robin was placed at the center of the wheel of the box and was looking at her. He bent when she bent down, get up even when she get up, and seemed willing to eat the same crumbs. At that time Mrs Robin decided to inflate the chest, warn him, but he did the same, so she lashed out that stubborn bird, which did not want to leave her alone. For each peck was a strange “tin” and the head of that robin hard as a stone. Maybe two crumbs was not tha case to get bad, for that time he won. But she wanted to convince that she is not always so grumpy: in the woods rather often tends to follow willingly boars, deer or pheasants, they make a great team game, where they stir the ground and she takes the insects that emerge. Even with the man after all get along:she lets the “puppies” have fun to giving her those fat cookies, or she follows the farmers hoeing the soul, so that she can eat that insects which destroy their crops... I would call it more... opportunistic, but understanding her temper I preferred not to emphasize this quality.

Francesca Da Pozzo

Reproduction So, if they are so aggressive how can robins live together and form pairs? There’s a trick: the female defends her territory only from September to December, but at the beginning of the winter moves in search of food and of a mate. The search ends when, attracted by the melodious song of a handsome red prince, the female goes to him and once arrived there she receives all the attention she deserves: she is driven away a bad way. But since, as I discovered personally, the female are a little ‘”crock”, this continues to come forward until the male does not get used to her presence. Indeed, he falls in love with her. From that moment on, the two lovebirds, defend the territory together. Thus began a beautiful stage of married life, in which she works hard all day to find the perfect place to nest and he looks for food, bringing nibbles as a wedding gift. The coupling of the robins is very early, in the middle of winter, when most of the species are still well riparated. Is not easy to see a robin’s nest because they usually do so in sheltered and hidden places. How can we blame the female? She must meet a lot of needs, “do not get to see them from predators, do not make the rain falls into, decide whether to do it on the floor or higher (about 1.5 meters) and finally foul well cozy, fluffy (opening wide, form cupped, perfect circle, coating soft roots, moss, feathers and so provides the environment). All this work requires a lot of energy, and the female just make a sound to snap the male in search of food, and sometimes even of another mate when he has the opportunity. But if all goes well, wonderfully, in mid-March, female lays 5-7 whitish eggs. She will begin to hatch only after having laid all the eggs, fed by the male. Two weeks of hatching, two weeks of development of chicks (children who are born naked and blind) and then off to amazing new horizons. So, Mom and Dad greet the chicks to July, when they are completely independent, but still without orange feathers on the chest.

Francesca Da Pozzo

Stereotype We can therefore say that this bird is a bundle of energy and aggressiveness, ready to fight even to the death to defend its territory. We made all fooled by its so nice and cute appearance, from her chubby body and his gleaming eyes, when in fact the robin is nothing but a warrior with armor â&#x20AC;&#x153;red. Perhaps its warrior being pushed Robin Hood to choose the name of this bird to be known throughout the forest, or the creators of Batman to give him an exposure and brave fellow named Robin ... well ... letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s say we find courage and fighting spirit, but certainly the spirit of selfless heroes is not one of the characteristics of the robin. Still, the most famous legend concerning it shows him in the heroic robes: it is said that the chest is red because of a drop of blood that stained the bird intent to remove the bones from the face of the suffering Christ on the cross .. ..this, after knowing more about this animal, looks like a joke. But perhaps the way in which we portray so naive robins is the fact that our relationship with him is not so bad, apart from the fact that in our ideal Robin is the symbol of the first snowfall and the sweet Christmas

Francesca Da Pozzo

Perspective Thinking about all these redicolous stories about the robins I started to laugh to myself. But Mrs Robin, realizing that I was laughing at her, get so angry that she hit me on my head and decide to fly away, going back to defend her territory. Moving away she was so furious that she begun to shout how offensive and dispectful we humans are. In the city the are only able to do lot of noise, so that she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sing as always she does. The only thing we are usefull for is food! Fulish humans

Francesca Da Pozzo

Usignolo, Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos Maria Lucrezia De Marco

WHO/BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION The common nightingale is slightly larger than the European robin, more or less 15–16.5 cm. He is plain brown above with a reddish tail while below he is quite grey. His tail is long 6 cm and the wing is 8,5 cm; from beak to head he measures 1,6 cm. He weighs about 22-24 g and could be easily hosted on a man’s hand. He is a long-range migratory bird (Order: Passeriformes) breeding in Europe and southwest Asia and wintering in west sub-Saharian Africa. Nightingales inhabit many European thick forests and woodlands excluding those in further North than United Kingdom. The maximum lifespan for nightingales is more or less 8-10 years but this does not mean that they usually live so long. The average lifespan is 2 years because birds in the wild have to face many problems and predators unknown for birds grown up in captivity. One of the main causes of birds’ s death is the crash into glass panels and windows. Nightingales are omnivorous birds and feed on a mixture of fruits, seeds, insects and nuts but they also have many predators in their natural environment. For this reason they are forced to live quite hidden among bushes and to travel by night for migration. Also their color, not particularly significant, may be the result of a Darwinian attempt in order not to be noticed by predators. The song is the only way he has to communicate with others and to attract specimens, but he needs to stay hidden among leaves even during the wonderful exhibition.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

WHERE/HABITAT Global scale The nightingale breeds naturally in the European and Asian forests during the summer months and then migrates to central Africa for the wintering since it needs particular climate conditions. Basically main geographical parameters are: - less than 400 m (1300 ft) above mean sea level -mean air temperature during the growing season above 14 °C (57 °F) -more than 20 days/year on which temperatures exceed 25 °C (77 °F) -annual precipitation less than 750mm -aridity index lower than 0.35 As he needs to hide from predators, nightingale lives, breeds and nests among dense vegetation and thick bushes, in the underbrush and at the edges of broad-leaved woods, not far from rivers or ponds. He also needs flat and bare ground where he can look for food like spiders and insects. In Africa he winters in low thorny shrubs. Urban scale In Italy, nightingale is widespread everywhere except mountains and some areas in South Italy where he is not very common (Puglia and Sicily). He is used to live also in urban contexts due to easy food availability and warm climate conditions but he prefers suburban parks and gardens quite far from the city center. In urban environment however recurring pruning is a crucial problem for nightingales as he usually nests in wild bushes. Another noteworthy consideration is noise pollution responsible for bio-acustics disadvantages. In Milan, nightingale has been sought at Bosco delle Querce, Bosco in Città, at Cimitero Maggiore, in outskirts surroundings the county and even at Parco Sempione but he could live also in other urban green areas.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

WHEN/MIGRATION Nightingale is a long-range migratory bird and since he needs warm climate conditions he has to travel great distances each year and flies for months at 29 km/h speed. In order not to be seen by predator birds, he travels by night and rests during the day. He leaves central Africa in February and arrives in Europe in mid-April. He has to cover a huge distance but he is not able to hunt flying (as large birds of prey do), so he has to stop and rest. In September he nests in Morocco, especially if he is coming from United Kingdom. Here he stays about 3 weeks and then departs towards Guinea - Bissau or Senegal, where he winters until February. He spends these months living in dense, thorny bushes and looking for food on the ground, like in spring. Empiric experiments have demonstrated that many nightingales in spring come back exactly in the same area they had left in September.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

WHEN/ACTIVITY Nightingale sings for several reasons, both during the day and during the night, usually near his nest in order to fight predators off. However, especially in urban contexts it is much more easier to hear him singing at night due to noise pollution so he is wrongly supposed to be nightbird. During the day he looks for food especially in a wet environment where he can find insects and worms. Otherwise he turns small pieces of land over to find underground insects. Then he brings the food back to his nest and, together with his mate, feeds the puppies. He is both a night-bird and a day-bird but he moves by night so all the migratory flight happens at night.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

WHY/REPRODUCTION The reproductive season begins in mid-April when nightingale looks for a mate. A male unpaired nightingale has to sing to attract a mate for breeding. If he already has a mate, they probably will spend the life together. While male nightingale searches for food, female nightingale has to build a nest with leaves and twigs among bushes or on the ground. Then she covers it with other leaves in order to hide it from animals and predators. In May she lays 4-6 eggs in one day and then broods them for 13-14 days. After the puppiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s born, both the male and female nightingales bring them up for 11-12 days and go on feeding them even when they leave the nest. In some cases, the female nightingale can brood twice in spring season, in May and in June, relating to the food availability. After the reproductive season, nightingales are ready to leave. They fly alone at night due to the need of hiding from predators. Firstly, young birds fly to Africa at the end of August, then male specimens begin migration in early September. They leave before female nightingales to find a new territory for wintering and eventually to fight for it against other birds. Once they have conquered a new space for living, female specimens arrive. When nightingales come back in Europe after wintering, they usually set in the same place they had left in September, and here they nest again with the same mate.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

WHAT/FEEDING CYCLE Nightingale is an omnivorous bird and eats mostly spiders, larvas, earthworms, ladybugs, insects and small terrestrial invertebrates that he can find on the ground in woods and underbrush or among low vegetation. For this reason he starts the reproductive season earlier than other birds like least flycatcher that have to wait for the arrival of flying insects. Since nightingale eats animals that pose a threat for cultivated fields, he is always well-accepted in the country. He also feeds nuts, elder berries, currant berries and in late August ripe fruit too. He also likes eating butterflies but many species of butterfly are in danger of extinction. However, nightingale has a positive global effect on human economy, both for agriculture and for people. His song in fact is considered source of joy and happiness, when humans are able to hear it. Due to his small size, nightingale is hunted by many predators, divided into two groups: large birds of prey and carnivorous terrestrial mammals, more common in urban contexts. Among the latter rats, cats, foxes, reptiles and weasels. In natural environment nightingales have many troubles, while in the city they are quite facilitated under the food-chain point of view due to the shortage of large birds of prey and the great amount of insects migrated from the country in order to escape pesticides.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

WITH WHO/BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION Apart from communication with other specimens, nightingale uses song even to communicate with other animals or birds. Between May and July itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to hear nightingale singing at dawn in order to defend his territory: he usually considers his own property the land around his nest in a range of 45 m, where he breeds and feeds. So the main interaction with animals that share his same habitat is based on the self-defense, through song. If threatened he can become very aggressive although his small size does not constitute a danger for bigger birds. Birds that could live near the nightingaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bushes in urban parks are for instance, robin, wood pigeon, cuckoo, tawny owl, horned owl, hoopoe, wryneck, woodpecker, winter wren and chaffinch.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

HOW/DO WE SEE YOU Nightingale is maybe one of the most well known birds, especially in Europe and Japan. He was called in Ancient Greek “Aedon” (“cantore”) and his song has inspired for centuries the work of artists, poets, writers and painters, from Hokusai to Mirò. Nightingales are symbols of love, sorrow and poetry and many legends and fables have sprung up around them. The following is only one of the amazing poetic meanings that have been conferred to nightingales: “So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and the thorn touched her heart, and a fierce pang of pain shot through her. Bitter, bitter was the pain, and wilder and wilder grew her song, for she sang of the Love that is perfected by Death, of the Love that dies not in the tomb.” According to “The Nightingale and the Rose”, an Oscar Wilde’s tale, the bird sacrificed himself and died singing during the night. He in fact is considered a nighttime singer, as the name itself suggests ( from “night songstress”). When he first arrives from his central African wintering quarters, he is commonly heard after dark when other species have ceased singing but he does also sing during the day at every hour. Contrary to what we usually think, song is not an innate quality, but it is acquired with practice and experience. Once acquired this ability, his voice is considered sublime and has been crystallized in music even by Stravinskij and Wagner especially in the most characteristic feature of the song, a loud whistling crescendo.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco

HOW/DO YOU SEE US How do nightingales see us? Obviously they may consider humans really noisy, and quite annoying. And also giant, since their small size. But how do they ACTUALLY perceive the world around them? Like other birds, nightingales have a range of vision much more wider than what we have. If man’s monocular vision is defined within a 90° angle, birds and nightingales as well can see what happens around them within a 300° angle. So thanks to this one-eyed vision they are able to perceive a danger even when it is behind them. What is even more interesting is the difference between our visible spectrum and the bird’s one. We are able to perceive wavelengths between 400 nm and 750 nm, from purple to red in terms of colors. Birds and nightingales instead have the ability to intercept the ultraviolet light up to 300 nm wavelengths. This means that they see a great range of shadows that we just can not notice. Colors that seem identical to us are deeply different for birds, which help them to recognize other specimens, other animals, insects, dangers and most of all to identify eggs that seem perfectly identical before our eyes.

Maria Lucrezia De Marco