STOPOVER OF MIGRANTS FLYING ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN-SEA AND THE SAHARA

During autumn migration, passerines cross the Mediterranean Sea and th e Sahara on a broad front. Only the Atlas region from Morocco to Tunis ia offers good stopover sites with respect to food and water. All othe r areas in the desert are not suitable for fat accumulation. The numbe r and size of the eases are too small to be of general importance for feeding or drinking. Nevertheless, migrants have been found resting in all habitats of the desert. Their condition, namely, fat stores and h ydration state, is probably sufficient for a successful continuation o f the desert crossing. The ratio of intermittent migrants (those who i nterrupt migration for a rest) to nonstop migrants (those who cross th e desert in one flight) is not known. Recent results, however, indicat e that about one-quarter of all migrants use an intermittent migratory strategy.