This research focuses on the Stone curlew Burhinus oedicnemus (Charadriiformes, Burhinidae), an Eurasian steppic species of conservation concerns both in Europe and in Italy. Starting from the second half of the twentieth century, European populations undergone a strong decrease of abundance mainly caused by the loss of breeding habitat. In spite of this unfavourable conservation status, the available information on the ecology and behaviour of this species are still scarce, mainly due to its cryptic and crepuscolar habits.
The study deals with several issues, aiming at clarifying the basic aspects of the biology of the species, especially useful for its conservation. The work is conducted in several Italian (The Po and Piave Valley, Southern Tuscany, Sardinia and Sicily) and foreign countries (Tunisia, Canary Islands). The main topics of research are:
- the development of accurate techniques for estimation the density and abundance of breeding populations;
- Moult phenology and the relationship between moult and other events of the annual cycle of the species;
- Reproductive behaviour of the species;
- Effects of anthropogenic (human disturbance) and non-anthropogenic (weather conditions) factors on breeding habitat selection and reproductive success;
- The effect of agropastoral activities on the spatial behaviour and foraging habitat selection;
- Vocal repertoire and acoustic communication between adult and chicks
- Migratory behaviour and identification of wintering sites of some Italian populations
- Analysis of the genetic structure of Mediterranean populations.