LIFE06 NAT/H/000096
A kerecsensólyom védelme a Kárpát medencében
Kedvezményezett: Bükk Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
3304 EGER, Sánc u. 6.
LAST SATELLITE-RECEIVED TRANSMITTER ON SAKER
In the frame of Saker conservation LIFE programme, on 6th June 2009, near the village
of Tiszanána experts of Bükk National Park Directorate and BirdLife Hungary deploy
the last satellite-received transmitter on a juvenile Saker. During the Hungarian-Slovak
programme in total 46 satellite-received transmitters have been deployed between
2007 and 2009. Results so far are far beyond the expectations and form a good base
for a more efficient international Saker conservation programme.
Where do Sakers go? Where do they winter? Do they make as far as Africa? What dangers
are posed on them? Do they get shot in Malta? Do they get trapped and sold in NorthAfrica? Is really true that only juveniles migrate? Is it a real migration or is it rather some kind
of roaming?
Experts have been seeking answers to those and other questions using the state-of-the-art
technology of satellite-received transmitters in order to conserve the species more efficiently.
The Saker – the legendary Turul of Hungarian legend that can be seen also on the 50HUF
coin – is endangered throughout its range. It is only the small Central-European population
that can be considered as stable, and even more the coherent Hungarian-Slovak population
is slowly increasing due to conservation efforts. However, this small population is still
vulnerable and to conserve them it is vital to learn the most important threatening factors in
the areas birds are visiting.
Technology of 21st century made it possible to explore migration and roaming of falcons.
Experts have learnt that birds are not behaving alike: some of them may migrate as far as
Africa in the winter as Viera, a juvenile female Saker tagged in Slovakia, did. Viera spent the
winter of 2008-2009 in Niger, close to the border of Nigeria and then she moved to Romania
in the spring. During autumn migration she completed the distance of 1100 km above the
Mediterranean Sea between Montenegro and Libya within an astonishing 24 hours. On the
way home she crossed the sea again above its widest part.
Magyar partnerek: Aggteleki-, Balatoni-, Duna-Dráva-, Duna-Ipoly-, Fertő-Hanság-Őrség-, Hortobágyi-,
Kiskunsági-, Körös-Maros Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság, E-misszió Környezetvédelmi Egyesület, Magyar
Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület (MME), Provértes Természetvédelmi Közalapítvány
Szlovák partnerek: Raptor Protection of Slovakia, The State Nature Conservation of Slovakia,
SOS/BirdLife Slovakia, West-Slovak Electric Company
LIFE06 NAT/H/000096
A kerecsensólyom védelme a Kárpát medencében
Kedvezményezett: Bükk Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
3304 EGER, Sánc u. 6.
Other juveniles spent the winter in the European part of Mediterranean: Italy and Greece
proved important wintering sites for Hungarian and Slovak Sakers.
Some Sakers have never left the Carpathian Basin. Like Dóra, the juvenile female that was
tagged in 2007 and that has chicks already in 2009. It is very likely that she will never leave
the area she settled. At least data of satellite-tracked adult Sakers suggest that adult birds in
pairs never leave their eyries for a longer period.
Until then, however, juvenile males may roam as far as the border of Asia, as some tracked
bird, like Barna did. Their movements at the same time is an evidence that there may be
exchange of gene with the eastern populations.
There are some data also about causes of mortalities: in 2008 Romeo, a Saker tagged in
western part of Hungary was found electrocuted in Russia.
Data from satellite tracking are invaluable for experts and they have international interests.
Detailed analysis of data will be carried out after deploying the last satellite-received
transmitters. Results will be included in the international Saker conservation plan.
Saker tagged during the programme can be followed here: www.sakerlife.mme.hu .
Contact:
PROMMER, Mátyás
communication
BirdLife Hungary
Tel.: +36-20-553-1296
E-mail: prommer.matyas@mme.hu
Magyar partnerek: Aggteleki-, Balatoni-, Duna-Dráva-, Duna-Ipoly-, Fertő-Hanság-Őrség-, Hortobágyi-,
Kiskunsági-, Körös-Maros Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság, E-misszió Környezetvédelmi Egyesület, Magyar
Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület (MME), Provértes Természetvédelmi Közalapítvány
Szlovák partnerek: Raptor Protection of Slovakia, The State Nature Conservation of Slovakia,
SOS/BirdLife Slovakia, West-Slovak Electric Company