PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is a very rare and threatened species in Europe. The total European breeding population was, until recently, estimated at 450 pairs. Hungary and Slovakia hold about 40% of this population. Therefore, the conservation of the population in the Carpathian basin in these two countries was crucial to the survival of the species in Europe. Although populations increased in these two countries between 1990 and 2000, the overall European population trend was in decline – falling by more than 20% during this period. The reasons for this were unclear, but main threats were thought to include the loss and degradation of natural nest sites, degradation of feeding habitat and loss of food resources, increased mortality caused by electrocution and hunting, reduced breeding success by collapsing natural nests, human disturbance and possibly, increased mortality on migration route and winter grounds. Additionally, the decline is linked with the regional extinction of the Saker falcon’s preferred prey, the European ground squirrel(Spermophilus citellus).
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed to reinforce ongoing efforts to strengthen the Hungarian and Slovakian populations of the Saker falcon, a globally vulnerable species, listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive and also considered as a priority species for LIFE Nature funding. The project’s main objectives were to identify the main reasons for the decrease in the European population and to create favourable conditions to stabilise the situation in the short-term. Measures to reach these goals would include:
RESULTS
The project was very successful. At the start of the project (2006), there were an estimated 140 breeding pairs of Saker falcon in Hungary and 23 pairs in Slovakia. By the end of the project (September 2010) around 200-220 pairs were counted in Hungary and 35-38 pairs in Slovakia. Therefore, as planned, the European core population of the globally vulnerable Saker falcon had been stabilised. Moreover, the original proposals were exceeded as, according to monitoring results, the population has even started to show a steady increase.
All the planned measures were implemented on time and to budget. Coordinated by the beneficiary, these various conservation actions were carried out by a large number of partner organisations (state organisations and NGOs) working in co-operation across the two neighbouring countries. Importantly, the project collected a significant amount of new information about the species’ roaming, migration, land use etc., which should prove valuable for future conservation work. Although the project actions were located in the Carpathian basin, the findings have been disseminated worldwide.
Other key results include:
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
