Conservation of Saker (Falco cherrug) in the Carpathian Basin (LIFE06 NAT/HU/000096)

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Late October 2009 the satellite-tracked Saker Dorottya from Hungary arrived in Niger. She spent most of the following four months 50-25 km NNE of Zinder (roughly 14.00 N 9.00 E). The areas where she stayed are mostly quite flat coversands. Local rainfall averages 300-400 mm/yr. The main crop is the grain crop millet, grown by Haussa farmers. The other main land use is pastoralism, carried out primarily by Peul families. (2010/07/12)

EU's LIFE Committee has approved our new Saker conservation project for support. The aims of the project are to transfer knowledge from the recent LIFE programme to Romanian and Bulgarian colleagues on one hand, and on the other hand to continue insulation of the most dangerous places in Hungary and - involving one electric company as a partner (Západoslovenská energetika, a.s.) - in Slovakia. In the frame of the project, effects of wind farms and diet composition will also be assessed. (2010/06/21)

Three months of intense rehabilitation were not enough to save a falcon. Unfortunately, the Saker Falcon - a globally endangered species did not make it back to the wild. The bird underwent a serious operation; however its condition did not improve and likely as a result of a bacterial infection the bird died in early January 2010. (2010/01/28)

It was a bad start of the New Year for Sakers, as well as conservationists. János, the satellite-tracked adult male Saker was found electrocuted in 04 January 2010. He was 7 years old. (2010/01/07)

The number of downloads: 425960
Latest update: 2010/08/19

Birds with satellite tags

From now the movements of the tagged falcons can be followed also on the internet. >>

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In the frame of the Hungarian-Slovak Saker conservation LIFE project 10 juvenile Sakers have been tagged with satellite transmitters (PTTs). The aim of the action is to learn about dispersal and migration of Sakers and to explore the temporary settling and wintering areas.

Int he first year, five-five, 20g, solar-powered PTTs from two manufacturers – Microwave (www.microwavetelemetry.com) and NorthStar (www.northstarst.com) – help us to follow the falcons. Microwave PTTs have in-built GPS units that enable PTTs to locate the birds more times and more accurately. That is the reason of the differences in maps showing the Sakers’ movements, as well.

From 2008, based on our experience, we use the 22g solar Microwave PTTs that include an internal GPS unit. Those PTTs are capable to locate the falcons with a few meters accuracy, several times a day.

Results of first year’s satellite tracking have been far beyond expectations. Early summer 2008 four out of ten PTTs mounted in 2007 are still transmitting. It is very likely that two falcons perished just around fledging time. Two others stopped transmitting after a few months for unknown reason and their last signals came from Hungary. Two Sakers disappeared in Lybia.

We learnt from the data that some of the juveniles leave the Carpathian basin in the autumn. We learnt also that the two surviving juvenile males roaming considerable distances after returning Hungary in spring, while at the same time both tagged juvenile females stay in the Carpathian basin after arrival.

In 2008 we mounted 3 adult males in order to learn about their habitat use in the breeding season. In addition, seventeen juvenile Sakers were mounted in Hungary and three in Slovakia.