Bird fauna of Kefalonia

                                                                                                           We are recording the bird fauna of the Central Ionian Sea on a long-term basis. In cooperation with the Institute of Zoology of the University of Munich and researcher Alan Vittery we have coordinated the evaluation of our own data and data collected by others on the bird fauna of the island of Kefalonia and presented the results in two Congresses of the Hellenic Zoological Society (1996 and 2002).

We recorded more than 230 bird species on Kefalonia alone: that is more than half of the Greek bird species!

                                                                                                           Many were fairly common species such as jays, robins, oystercatchers, hoopoes (left), herring gulls (centre) or swallows (right).

About 30% of the species recorded were endangered species. Among them were various songbirds such as Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Rüppell’s Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, etc. but also raptors, owls, sea birds and waterfowl.

Among the raptors and owls were: Griffon Vulture, Μontagu’s Harrier, Golden Eagle, Short-eared Owl, etc.

Left: Long-legged Buzzard

Right: Long-eared Owl (not endangered)

Among the sea birds were: Kingfisher, Audouin’s Gull, Cory’s Shearwater, etc.

Left: Shag

Right: Kingfisher

Among the waterfowl were: Glossy Ibis, Night Heron, Bittern, Black-winged Stilt, etc.

Left: Grey Heron

Right: Little Egret

The majority of species (121) were recorded at Cape Mounda, southeast Kefalonia, on the route of migratory birds along western Greece. A significant number (107 species) was recorded in the Livadi wetland, at the back of the gulf of Argostoli. Third in terms of diversity was Mt. Ainos with 40 bird species. In the lagoon of Koutavos nearby Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia, an important wetland at the local level and a jewel for the area, we counted 16 species. Naturally, several species were registered in more than just one place.