Mediterranean Association for Nature is an environmental protection group established in 2003 by the same group of people who have long been active in protecting raptors migrating across the Strait of Messina. It works on environmental protection in Italy, related studies, and environmental promotion and education.

Migration Unlimited is an international network uniting the associations involved in studying and protecting migratory birds in the Western Palearctic. It is borne out of the awareness that migratory birds, which are not linked to one specific area, require shared efforts and wide-ranging conservation programs.

The birds that are about to embark on their annual spring migration have already overcome the countless perils of fall migration and the hardships on their wintering grounds, where competition with other birds, both conspecific and not, leads to strong natural selection.
As they head back to their European breeding sites in spring, the raptors reaching the Strait of Messina have already flown over the Sahara Desert and the Sicilian Channel, a sea crossing of 150 km at its narrowest point. Wind, rain, hunger, thirst, and predators extract a heavy toll on migrants: Elkins (2004) estimates that about 50% of spring migrants die during migration.

Honey Buzzards migrating over the Strait of Messina

Until recently, in the Peloritani mountains overlooking the Strait of Messina, and in Calabria as well, many of them died at the hands of poachers; every bird stopped forever on its way north meant one less chance for that species to breed.
The impact of poaching in the various countries located along migratory flyways is an international problem, and only through international cooperation can migrating birds be saved, wherever they may be.

For nearly 30 years, initiatives to protect migrants and fight poaching have been implemented on both sides of the Strait; the study and surveillance camps are the most important of these.


In Sicily, the camp is currently organized by Mediterranean Association for Nature .

Thanks to our efforts over these many years, poaching has almost disappeared in Sicily, shooting of raptors still goes on in Calabria, and although it has been reduced, the problem remains, and is being fought every year by the State Forestry Department and by surveillance camps: Over time, the purpose of our presence has changed from repression to prevention.
The Strait of Messina provides an excellent example of how international cooperation has helped save thousands of raptors: we achieved these results thanks to the help of hundreds of volunteers from throughout Europe. We still need the help of all nature lovers in order to ensure that poachers in Sicily will not resume shooting like they once did.
Reducing, and, we hope, eliminating one of the main threats to their migration is undoubtedly an extremely important contribution to the conservation of all raptor species, whether common or endangered.