Costanzo, Alessandra http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3781-0798
Rubolini, Diego
Ambrosini, Roberto
Caprioli, Manuela
Gatti, Emanuele
Romano, Andrea
Parolini, Marco
Gianfranceschi, Luca
Saino, Nicola
Article History
Received: 21 March 2018
Revised: 10 July 2018
Accepted: 19 July 2018
First Online: 27 July 2018
Compliance with ethical standards
:
: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
: The study was authorized by Funzione Caccia, Pesca, Parchi e GEV, Corpo Polizia Provinciale, Provincia di Novara (Settore Agricoltura, Determina n. 55/2015, issued on January 20, 2015). The study was carried out under ringing permit 0665 released by the Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica, which issues all the relevant permissions required. The study was conducted in private lands, and land owners gave us the permission to access their farms. All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. Nestling and adult barn swallows were kept warm in cloth bags and in a safe position. At each measurement session each individual was handled for a few minutes. Blood (approximately 80 μl) was sampled by puncturing of the brachial vein and the puncturing site was disinfected afterwards. Individuals did not show obvious negative consequences of handling.