Pirio
The site of Pirio is located in the Fango Valley, in northwestern Corsica, between Galeria and Manso, southward from Calvi. The population has been monitored since the project was initiated in 1976 with phenotypic and pedigree data collected since 1979. There are currently 189 nest boxes weekly monitored during the breeding season. Pirio’s habitat is mainly composed of evergreen holm oak (Quercus ilex). Nest boxes are located in the forest or near the village of Tuarelli. The main bird monitored there is the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) but each year, we also get great tits (Parus major) and coal tits (Periparus ater). There are two other sites (Monte-Estremo and l’Aulnaie) with nest boxes but less regularly monitored, usually depending on scientific needs and fieldworker constraints.
Map of Northwestern Corsica showing localisation of Pirio field sites. Map from Google Earth 2022.
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Pictures from the field sites in Tuarelli (on the left) and the forest of Pirio (on the right)
Zoomed map of Corsica showing localisation of D-Muro (red) and E-Muro(green) field sites. Map from Google Earth 2022.
D-Muro
D-Muro is located near the village of Muro in the Balagne region, eastward from Calvi in Corsica. The population has been monitored since 1993 and comprised three sites in the neighboring villages of Muro, Feliceto and Avapessa. As indicated by the “D” in “D-Muro”, the habitat is mainly composed of deciduous downy oaks (Quercus pubescens). There are currently 101 nest boxes weekly monitored during the breeding season. The main bird monitored there is the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) but each year, we also get great tits (Parus major). Fun fact: although all sites provide great scenery for photos, people usually converge to take the same picture from the same tree (and nest box) in Avapessa site.
E-Muro
E-Muro is located near the town of Speluncato in the Balagne region, eastward from Calvi in Corsica. The population has been monitored since 1998 and comprised three neighboring sites: Arinelle, Filagna and Grassa. As indicated by the “E” in “E-Muro”, the habitat is mainly composed of evergreen holm oak (Quercus ilex). There are currently 76 nest boxes weekly monitored during the breeding season. The main bird monitored there is the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) but each year, we also get great tits (Parus major). Holm oaks tend to be smaller in patchy habitats in these sites, offering a better view of nest boxes from the distance for the comfort of fieldworkers… or not, since birds can also detect fieldworker presence from (a greater) distance!
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Left: view of the village of Muro (and Feliceto). Right: Open-field experiment set in the site of Arinelle