New breeding evidence of Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis in South Tyrol after 1970/1980s

Cisticola juncidis was considered extinct in Trentino-South Tyrol since 1980, but recent
records indicate that the species is recolonizing the region. Initial detections were
made during standardized monitoring programs conducted by local research institutes,
followed by additional observations reported through citizen science platforms. Con
firmed reproduction over two consecutive years suggests a potential expansion of the
species within the region. Most observations occurred inside protected areas where
open habitats are maintained through extensive management practices. These findings
underline the importance of protected areas providing crucial habitats in an intensively
managed agricultural landscape and highlight the effectiveness of combining citizen
science data with standardized monitoring for tracking species distribution shifts and
detecting new occurrences or for tracking restricted populations