Conservation of the Saker Falcon in the Carpathian basin

Conservation of the
Saker Falcon in the
Carpathian basin
2006 – 2010
Summary report of LIFE06 NAT/H/000096 project

Juvenile female Saker (photo: Bagyura János)
 Juvenile Saker (photo: Jozef Chavko)
Introduction
The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug Gray 1834) is a typical bird species
found in open areas, steppes, and semi-deserts. It reaches its
westernmost distribution range in the Carpathian Basin. The global
population of this ‘noble’ raptor species – it plays an important role in
Hungarian legends as ‘turul’ – is estimated to be six – eight thousand
pairs. However, the number of pairs is decreasing throughout the
distribution range of the species (except for in the Carpathian Basin). It
is especially important to conserve the Hungarian-Slovak populations.
In regard to the conservation aim above, between
2006 and 2010 an extensive Hungarian-Slovak Saker
conservation programme was implemented. This was
led by the Bükk National Park Directorate, involving
16 partners and using the financial support of the
European Union’s LIFE-Nature programme.
The project aimed to strengthen the Hungarian-Slovak populations
of the Saker Falcons living in the Carpathian Basin as they are a
globally endangered species (listed in Annex I. of the Bird Directive).
The estimated total European population of the species is 450 pairs.
Hungary and Slovakia hold 40% of the European population, therefore
conservation of the population in the Carpathian Basin is extremely
important from the aspect of the European population’s future.
Although the populations in both countries increased between 1990
and 2000, the overall population decreased by 20% in the last ten
years.
In regard to the facts above, conservation measures can be successful
only if the risks on the Sakers during migration can be identified
and threatening factors eliminated. Also, these losses must be
compensated by strengthening the population in the Carpathian
Basin.
PROJECT DETAILS
LIFE06 NAT/H/000096
Conservation of Falco cherrug in the Carpathian Basin
Duration of the project:
01. 10. 2006. – 30. 09. 2010.
Total budget of the project:
€ 2 152 042,
of which 74,66% is provided by the European Commission
through LIFE-Nature fund.
Beneficiary
Partners
Support
What is LIFE?
The abbreviation ‘LIFE’ stands for the
financial instrument for the European
Union’s environmental policy. This
is a fund created in 1992 to support
nature conservation and environmental
projects of Community interest.
Programmes implemented under LIFENature are to base and foster a more
efficient conservation of sites of Natura
2000 network designated under Bird
and Habitat Directives
What is Natura 2000?
Natura 2000 is the ecological network
of the European Union. It aims to
conserve biodiversity in Europe by
designating nature conservation
areas of European importance. The
base for designation is the Union’s
two basic pieces of legislation for
nature conservation, the so-called Bird
Directive (79/409/EEC) and Habitat
Directive (92/4/EEC), and the uniform
standard criteria applied to all Member
States. Management and use of Natura
2000 sites are regulated by Member
States on a national level.
www.sakerlife.mme.hu
(photo: Lucia Deutschova)
Falco
Falconidae
Falconiformes
Aves
 Adult male Saker (photo: Jozef Chavko)
Juvenile Saker (photo: Balázs István)
Juvenile Saker practicing its wings (photo: Balázs István)
Saker Falcon
(Falco cherrug Gray, 1834)
The Saker is brown and
buzzard-sized falcon, but a
slimmer bird of prey.
Females are larger than males; however the difference is not as
obvious as with Peregrines. Adults are yellowish brown on the back;
the head is light cream-coloured, sometimes almost white. The
moustache is narrow and less distinct. A white breast is typical for
adults with brown spots that densify toward the belly. The cere and
legs are yellow. Adults are generally lighter coloured than young
birds.
Newly fledged Sakers are also brown, but the spots on the breast
and belly are denser, merging into stripes. The moustache is more
distinct and darker than on adults and the head is darker as well.
The cere and legs are light blue, starting to become yellow only
during the second year. Generally, juveniles are darker than adults.
Distribution and habitat
Sakers prefer open area
habitats with woods and
pastures with Susliks.
The species is a typical raptor species for the steppes ranging from
Central-Europe to China. Their typical habitats in Europe are wooded
steppes in the lowland, agricultural areas, and foothill lowlands. In
Asia they live in steppes, semi-deserts, and on mountain plateaux
(up to 4000 metres). The distribution area of the Sakers more or less
overlaps with the distribution area of the Susliks, their favourite prey.
Migration
In Europe, some young birds move South in the
autumn with adults staying in the breeding area all
year round. Migrating routes and wintering places of
Central-European Sakers was little known before the
Saker conservation LIFE project. Due to the project, we
now know that Italy and the Sahel region in Africa are
the most important wintering areas of the species.
A significant part of the Asian population is migratory.
The main direction of migration is South-Southwest.
The known migration routes and wintering places
cover Northeast-Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the
Middle-East, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Southern parts of Turkmenistan, and some parts
of China and the Tibetan Plateau.
Breeding
Sakers do not build nest
Sakers prefer nest sites with the possibility of a safe approach
and offering a good view of the territory. The lowland nests of
Imperial or White-tailed Eagles are the preferred choice, but they
also breed regularly in Buzzard, Crow, and Goshawk nests. The
increasing Raven population has started to breed on pylons of
high-voltage power lines in the lowlands. Sakers have adapted
to this new nesting strategy and are using such Raven nests in
increasing number. Due to this new strategy, Sakers now occupy
areas where nesting possibilities used to be limited.
Display flights begin at the end of January and the beginning of
February, depending on the weather. Females lay 3-5 eggs in
mid to late March. Breeding lasts 32 days and starts after the
laying of the second egg. Small chicks are fed by the female;
prey is brought by the male only. Young birds fledge after 4247 days, but adults teach them to hunt after an additional 2-3
weeks. Females become adults at the age of one year; males
can start to breed at age two. Pairs stay together for a lifetime.
 Distribution range of Saker (green=all year around, blue=wintering area)
 Saker chicks in an artificial nest (photo: Bagyura János)
Juvenile male Saker (photo: Bagyura János)
Diet
Susliks (Spermophilus citellus) are the Sakers favourite prey in both
Hungary and Slovakia, however they are a seasonal prey item,
because Susliks are dormant in the winter. Pigeons (Columba livia f.
domestica) are therefore more important prey throughout the year.
Migratory birds, mostly Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), form a big part
of their diet for weeks in early spring. Adults often hunt on voles in
the winter. Pairs stay together outside of breeding season as well,
sometimes hunting together. Sakers often steal the prey from other
raptors like Harriers (Circus spp.) and Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus).
Pigeon (photo: Gallai Zsófia)
Conservation status
The Saker is a strictly protected species in both countries; its
conservation value by law is HUF 1.000.000 in Hungary and about
€ 3 320 in Slovakia. The species is listed in Annex I. of Bird Directive
of the European Union, Annex II. of Bern Convention, Annex II.
of CITES, and it is listed as “Endangered” on the Red List of IUCN
Starling (photo: Gallai Zsófia)
Suslik (photo: Ervin Hapl)
THREATS ON
THE SAKER FALCON
Disappearance of natural nest sites
Due to efficient species conservation, the Saker population is
increasing in the Carpathian Basin. But there are not enough nest
sites, as trees and woods often disappeared from agricultural
areas after the change of regime in 1990. Thus there has been less
possibility for nesting for species like the Corvidae and the Common
Buzzard (Buteo buteo) that in turn provide nests for Sakers. Old
nests are unsafe and they often fall apart during breeding. Sakers
meanwhile have discovered pylons on electric power lines in the
lowlands and have started to breed in Corvidae nests built on such
pylons and wooden nest boxes installed on these pylons.
Decrease or disappearance of hunting areas and food sources
After the change of the regime, the number of grazing livestock
decreased significantly throughout the country. As a result, traditional
use of meadows and pastures ceased. Forestation started on the
abandoned sites resulted in the disappearance of the Suslik – the
favourite prey of the Saker – and the decrease of other prey species.
Electrocution
Poles of mid-voltage electric power lines webbing the habitats
of Sakers are lethal threats to them and other bird species. In flat,
treeless habitats, birds like to perch on poles that offer a good view
of surrounding habitats. Birds, however, landing on or flying off
the crosspieces may make a short-circuit by touching either of the
two cables. Or when birds perch on one of the metallic crosspieces
while touching an energized cable or any other charged structure,
they may get electrocuted. This threatens adult as well as juvenile
birds.
 Juvenile Sakers just before fledging (photo: Balázs István)
 Saker killed by electrocution (photo: Bagyura János)
 Grazing helps maintaining short grasslands for Sousliks, Sakers’ favourite prey
Bird crime
Nowadays shooting is a
problem in Slovakia, where
the poachers - not knowing
the biology of the Sakers –
consider falcons as enemies
and shoot in the nests or at
the individual birds.
Illegal poisoning, unfortunately,
is increasing in both countries,
where poachers in most
cases place illegally poisoned
carcasses of foxes, martens,
and dogs. Sakers can be
poisoned directly by feeding
off a dead carcass or indirectly
when taking a poisoned lure
from Buzzards or Kestrels.
Nest robberies represent
another serious threat in
Slovakia for the Saker.
Disturbance and increasing
mortality on migration routes
and wintering areas
Unintentional human
disturbance resulting from lack
of knowledge is not rare. In
such cases the breeding fails
because of work being done in
an immediate vicinity of a nest.
At the start of the project,
we did not have accurate
information about migration
routes, wintering areas, and
mortality in these areas, but
we assumed a high mortality
during migration, based on a
comparison of the number of
fledged juveniles and breeding
pairs.
Sometimes also Sakers (lower right on the photo) become vistims of poisoning beside other birds of prey (Common Buzzards can be seen on the upper side of the photo)
(photo: Jozef Chavko)
 A Saker perished in the Sahara (Mauritania) (Photo: Med Saleh Menna/Parc National du Banc d’Arguin)
AIMS AND ACTIONS OF THE
SAKER CONSERVATION LIFE
PROGRAMME
In order to achieve these aims, the following actions have been carried out:
• Analysing the effects of agricultural support schemes and
related habitat management on the Saker habitats.
• Preparing restoration and management plans for abandoned
pastures on pilot areas and preparing proposals to introduce
favourable agricultural support schemes on the Suslik habitats in
order to motivate appropriate land use.
• Modelling population dynamics.
• Training project staff.
• Purchasing durable goods (under public procurement procedure).
• Preparing, placing, monitoring, and maintaining nest platforms
and boxes.
• Reintroduction of the Suslik to certain Natura 2000 sites and
monitoring the reintroduced Suslik population.
• Surveying and insulating dangerous pylons and monitoring
insulation.
• Tagging satellite birds with satellite-received transmitters and
rings to collect data on migration and juvenile dispersal, and
collecting feather samples for analysis.
• Guarding disturbed nests.
• Attending, breeding, and repatriating injured birds.
• Analysing addled eggs for chemical substances, and publishing results.
• Monitoring the population and the effects of various project actions.
• Collecting and evaluating data resulting from satellite tracking
and ringing.
• Leading BirdLife’s European Saker Working Group to co-ordinate
conservation efforts and collecting data about the wintering
areas, migration routes, and dispersed juveniles using an
international mailing list.
• Raising the awareness of hunters and improving mutual
cooperation in Slovakia.
• Testing efficiency of agri-environmental counselling based on
project results in pilot areas.
• Placing information boards.
• Designing and maintaining the project website.
• Gathering public support for conservation efforts.
• Informing the media about aims, actions, and results of the project.
• Organising international conferences to share and evaluate
experiences and results.
• Preparing an after LIFE conservation plan.
 Free again – recovered Saker after releasing (photo: Horváth Márton )
The aim of the programme
is to stabilize the
population in the shortterm and to facilitate
growth of the European
population for the longterm. This will occur by
learning about and possibly
eliminating any threats.

Juvenile Saker with a satellite-received transmitter (photo: Jozef Chavko)
 Saker with satellite-received transmitter (photo: Prommer Mátyás)
 Souslik family (photo: Ervin Hapl)
  Juvenile Sakers in aluminium nest-boksz (photo: Bagyura János)
 Juvenile Saker on an insulated pylon of mid-voltage power line
(photo: Bagyura János)
Expected main result
180 pairs in Hungary
and 35 pairs in Slovakia by 2010
keri_allomany_osszevont_en.pdf
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2010.09.07.
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1980 1983
1986 1989
West Slovakia
1992 1995
1998
Hungary
Adult male Saker (photo: Jozef Chavko)
Dynamics of Saker pairs between 1980 and 2010 (graph: Gallai Gergely)
2001
2004
2007
2010
PROJECT RESULTS
Providing nests sites
• 239 wooden nest platforms
in Hungary and 20 wicker
artificial nests in Slovakia
were placed on trees.
• 301 aluminium nest boxes
in Hungary and 85 in
Slovakia were placed on
pylons of high-voltage
power lines.
• About 600 trees were
planted in treeless lowlands
in Hungary to ensure future
nest sites.
• More than 1200 juveniles
fledged in the project areas
throughout the project time.
Ensuring food sources
• A proposal was prepared to refine the agri-environmental
support scheme in favour of the Saker and the Suslik, the Saker’s
favourite prey, by using aerial and space images, data from
satellite-tracked birds, and field studies.
• 4866 Susliks (3600 in Hungary and 1266 in Slovakia) were
repatriated from airfields – where they pose risks to aviation – to
pastures, where grazing is ensured for the long term.
• The responsible authorities prepared habitat management plans
for the grasslands, providing suitable habitat for the Sakers and
Susliks.
• More than 300 farmers per year were educated about potential
financial supports for Saker-friendly farming methods.
 Juvenile Saker in Artificial nest (photo: Balázs István)
Suslik trap (photo: Marek Brinzík)
 Suslik (photo: Balázs István)
Preventing electrocution
• 7466 pylons (6600 in Hungary and 866 in Slovakia) of midvoltage power lines were insulated in the project areas.
• Efficiency of the used insulators was tested.
Preventing bird crime
• 2-3 nests were guarded in Slovakia in order to prevent shooting
and nest robbery in the nest each year.
• Hunters were involved in the nest guarding.
• Continuous contact with hunters was kept during the project
by having meetings, giving lectures, publishing articles, and
organising common events.
• Offences against wild bird legislation were recorded in a
database and solved in cooperation with the Police or other
competent authorities.
čítanie nielen pre poľovníkov
• 500 copies of a coloured 16 page brochure was published
and distributed among hunters in cooperation with the Slovak
Hunters Association.
Minimising human disturbance in breeding season
• 2 - 3 threatened nests were guarded each year.
• More than 300 farmers per year were educated.
NAŠE DRAVCE
POZNÁVANIE DRAVCOV V PRÍRODE
VÝZNAM DRAVCOV V PRÍRODE
NEGATÍVNE VPLYVY
ČINNOSŤ ČLOVEKA
DRAVCE AKO OBETE NEZÁKONNEJ ČINNOSTI
• Co-operation with electric companies to prevent disturbance
on pairs breeding on pylons of high-voltage power lines by
maintenance works was improved.
 Insulated pylon of a mid-voltage power line (photo: Bagyura János)
 Journal of Raptor Protection of Slovakia
Learning about movements, habitat use, juvenile dispersal,
migration and mortality of Sakers
• 47 birds (43 juveniles and 4 adults) were tagged with satellite
transmitters.
• 1300 chicks were ringed with ornithological rings, with 600 of
them ringed also with special PIT rings.
• More information about the habitat use of Sakers, juvenile
dispersal, migration habits and routes, wintering areas, threats
during migration and wintering was gained by using satellite
telemetry.
Caring, breeding and repatriating injured birds
• 8 special cages were built in different parts of Hungary to adopt
and breed injured Sakers.
• 5 captive-bred juveniles were repatriated before fledging to
broods of wild Saker pairs.
• 4 recovered birds were released back into nature.
Raising public awareness about the species and conservation
efforts in order to ensure long term conservation
• 27 (3-language) info boards
were erected.
• A 3-language project website
was designed and is kept
up-to-date regularly.
• 2500 pieces of a 3-language
poster (A2 size) was prepared,
placed on public places, and
distributed among the public.
• 3 documentary films about
the project were prepared and
presented in Hungary.
• 500 pieces of a 3-language DVD
were prepared and distributed.
• The media was informed
continuously via press conferences
and press releases.
  Juvenile Saker with satellite-received transmitter (photo: Jozef Chavko)
 Injured juvenile Saker in the rescue centre (photo: Lucia Deutschová)  Erecting information board (photo: Lucia Deutschová)
 Saker with satellite-received transmitter (photo: Prommer Mátyás)
 Routes of juvenile Sakers mounted with satellite-received transmitters
CONSERVATION AFTER LIFE
The project supported by the European Union’s LIFE programme
and Ministry of Environment and Water Affairs came to an end on
30th September 2010. Results of the project speak for themselves;
however conservation work does not stop here. Some activities
will continue in the framework of another LIFE project (LIFE09 NAT/
HU/000384) e.g.:
• Repatriation of Susliks;
• Insulation;
• Public awareness raising;
• Knowledge transfer to Bulgarian and Romanian partners.
Project partners will continue other actions by using their own
sources:
• Monitoring the progress of agri-environmental support schemes;
• Monitoring and maintaining artificial nests;
• Managing Suslik habitats;
• Removing useless satellite-received transmitters from birds;
• Reading PIT rings;
• Monitoring Saker and Suslik populations.
 Adult female Saker (photo: Bagyura János)
Beneficiary of the LIFE project (LIFE06 NAT/H/000096)
“Conservation of Falco cherrug in the Carpathian Basin”
Bükk National Park Directorate
H-3304 Eger, Sánc u. 6.
Published by
Halmos Gergő
MME/BirdLife Hungary
1121 Budapest, Költő u. 21., Hungary
Written by
Bagyura János, Fidlóczky József a Prommer Mátyás
English translation
Prommer Mátyás
Slovak translation
Lucia Deutschova, Slávka Siryová
Design
Gallai Gergely
Printed by
Flekkprint Nyomda Kft.
Printed in:
2000 copies (in Hungarian)
1000-1000 copies (in Slovak and in English)
We would like to thank to our colleagues, who contributed to the successful implementation of
the programme, for collecting data in the field or by helping us in any other ways.
Agócs Péter, Baranyai Zsolt ,Bartha Csaba, Bártol István, Bene Viktória, Bereczky Attila,
Bérces Sándor, Béres István, Biró Csaba, Bíró István, Bodnár Mihály, Botos István Csaba,
Boldog Gusztáv, Boldogh Sándor, Borbáth Péter, Boruzs András, Czuczor István, Császár
Zsuzsanna, Csonka Péter, Czifrák Gábor, Czikora János, Darányi László, Demeter Iván, Demeter
László, Dudás Miklós, Egri Kiss Tibor, Farkas Roland, Fatér Imre, Fehér Gyula,Fehérvári Péter,
Feldhoffer Attila, Felber Péter, Firmánszky Gábor, Fitala Csaba, Forgách Balázs, Fülöp Gyula,
Gallai Gergely, Gáborik Ákos, Gilly Zsolt, Gilányi Gábor, Gombkötő Péter, Habarics Béla, Halmos
Gergő, Harmos Krisztián, Dr. Hegyi Zoltán, Horváth Márton, Hunyadvári Péter, Juhász Róbert,
Kapocsi István, Kálmánczi Anna, Kepes Zsolt, Kleszó András, Kotymán László, Kovács András,
Kovács Sándor, Kováts László, Kozma László, Dr. Kovács Éva, Kovács Sándor, Köszegi László,
Kökény Ildikó, Kővári Anita, Lantos István, Lengyel Tibor, Lóránt Miklós, Medgyesi Gergely,
Mészáros András, Mezei János, Mikle Baráth Miklós, Mogyorósi Sándor, Molnár István Lotár,
Mórocz Attila, Nagy Károly, Dr. Nagy Lajos, Nagy Tamás, Német Ákos, Őze Péter, Palatitz Péter,
Parrag Tibor, Petróczi Imre, Petrovics Zoltán, Pongrácz Ádám, Primusz József, Puskás László,
Sallai Zoltán, Sándor István, Seres Nándor, Simon Pál, Solt Szabolcs, Dr. Solti Béla, Somogyi
István, Spakovszky Péter, Szabó Attila, Szelényi Balázs, Szilágyi Attila, Szinai Péter, Szirtl Attila,
Tajti László, Tamás Enikő, Tar János, Tarján Barna, Tóth László, Tóth Tamás, Tőgye János, Újváry
Balázs, Urbán László, Vajda Zoltán, Vasas András, Vers József, Vidra Tamás, Vókó László, Zábrák
Károly, Zákány Albert, Zölei Anikó, Zsíros Sándor.
The injured birds were attended by Dr. Molnár Viktor and Dr. Sós Endre (Budapest Zoo). We
processed and evaluated the data together with MME/BirdLife Hungary's Monitoring Centre
(Nagy Károly, Görögh Zoltán and Nagy Zsolt).
We thank the help of our colleagues from Slovakia Peter Adamec, Michal Adamec, Michal
Ambros, Juraj Andre, Ivan Baláž, Pavol Balko, Juraj Balogh, Michal Behúl, Marek Brinzík, Peter
Bryndza, Jozef Chavko, Gašpar Çamlík, Lucia Deutschová, Alexander Fekete, Martin Giç, Dalibor
Greguš, Erik Gulák, Ervín Hapl, Stanislav Harvançík, Peter Hohti, Miroslav Holeša, Jozef Izakoviç,
Ján Kal'avský, Martin Kal'avský, František Karika, Mário Kern, Metod Macek, Viliam Klescht,
Sivlia Klešíková, Eva Komanická, Silvia Kónyová, Ondrej Koporec, Milan Královiç, Dušan Krivošík,
Elena Kyselová, Jozef Lengyel, Ján Lipták, Denisa Löbellová, Štefan Lovas, Boris Maderiç, Lucia
Matejoviçová, Miroslav Maukš, Vladimír Nemçek, Michal Noga, Ivanka Nováková, Mária
Nováková, Ján Obuch, Ján Orlovský, Peter Rác, Ján Salay, Jaroslav Saxa, Ján Sekereš, Ladislav
Serbák, Slávka Siryová, Daniela Stanislavová, Pavol Stranovský, František Szitási, František Szkuby,
Vojtech Szucs, Michal Šara, Ján Šmídt, Tibor Šnajdár, Jozef Tóth, Fridrich Tóth, Michal Uçník,
Marcel Uhrin, Andrej Vd'açný, Ignác Vincze, Slovenská elektrizaçná prenosová sústava, a.s.,
Západoslovenská energetika, a.s., Východoslovenská energetika, a.s., Štátna ochrana prírody SR.