Avian spring migration at the east Adriatic coast: coastal and sea-crossing dynamics of intensity, timing, and flight directions

Abstract

Background Each spring, migratory birds converge along the Croatian coast from various directions, creating a dynamic intersection of flight paths. Many birds are thought to cross the Adriatic Sea, while others follow a northward route along the coastline. As most migratory birds initiate flight shortly after sunset, we hypothesized that sea-crossing migrants would arrive with a delay at the Croatian coast, compared to migrants that were following the coast, resulting in potentially intricate spatiotemporal patterns that remain poorly Show more