PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The saker falcon population in the North-Hungarian Plain suffered a significant decline in the last decade. The number of breeding pairs decreased from 72 pairs in 2009 to 45 pairs in 2019, down 38%, while breeding success fell by 23% from around 2.6 chicks per breeding pair to just over 2 chicks.
Saker falcons face a number of threats, in particular high human-induced mortality of adults and juveniles. Between 2009 and 2019, this accounted for 95% of saker falcon deaths, where the cause was known, in Hungary. Electrocution on medium-voltage power line poles was the biggest culprit (51%), with other deaths caused by illegal poisoning (16%), collisions with vehicles (14%) or overhead cables (11%) and shooting (3%). There is also a high prevalence of mortality and breeding failure with unknown causes. Of the 60 saker falcons found dead or injured in Hungary between 2009 and 2019, the cause of death could not be identified for 23 of the birds (38%). On top of this, 27% of breeding attempts were unsuccessful due to unknown reasons. With the low level of knowledge on mortality and breeding failure, there is a risk that some hidden factors could have a significant effect on the population dynamics.
Decreased breeding success due to low availability of preferred prey species also presents a threat. Recent surveys found that four taxa represent the bulk of saker falcons’ prey (86%) in Hungary: pigeon species (35%), common starling (26%), brown hare (15%) and common vole (9%). The intensification of agriculture has caused several prey species, such as farmland birds and small mammals, to decrease. Agricultural land users regularly over-plough the margins of dirt roads, which is estimated to destroy up to 20-30% of these semi-natural habitats. The population of feral pigeons, which traditionally inhabited most isolated house yards among agricultural fields, has also declined on farmland.
Decreased availability of safe nesting sites is another problem for saker falcons. As they do not build nests themselves, the birds are highly dependent on nesting sites built by other species or provided by humans. Most artificial nests, which previously helped to increase the population, were installed on trees and high-voltage pylons between 1990 and 2010. The number and condition of nests in trees fell significantly during the last decade. As a result, 85% of the Hungarian population is breeding in nests on pylons, although the high-voltage network does not run close to many potential habitats. In parallel, the population of some species competing for the nests increased significantly (e.g. peregrine falcon, raven).
Lastly, saker falcons are affected by low awareness among stakeholders and the public about the species and the threats it faces. Most land users tend to be unaware of the birds’ presence and whether their activities could accidently threaten their survival, breeding success or food supply. People from some groups (hunters, pigeon fanciers and poultry keepers) are also often hostile to raptors, which can result in persecution.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE SakerRoads project’s objective is to stop and reverse the decreasing trend of the saker falcon population in the North-Hungarian Plain. It aims to achieve a 20% increase in both population size and breeding success. Specifically, the project seeks to:
- Decrease human-induced mortality: an intensive surveillance system will be operated in breeding territories in order to urgently detect and eliminate problems. Mortality along power lines will be dealt with as a first priority, but special attention will also be paid to cases of persecution;
- Reveal the unknown causes of mortality and breeding failure: significantly increasing the detection rate of mortality incidents and undertaking proper pathological investigation of dead individuals as well as a complex health survey of living breeding birds. The possibilities of pesticide and lead poisoning, diseases and the effects of electromagnetic radiation from high-voltage power lines will be the main focus of the investigations;
- Improve breeding success through increased availability of prey species and nesting sites: the restoration of an extensive dirt road network, as semi-natural field margins between large parcels of homogenous agricultural land, will be the key element to improve habitat conditions for various taxa along the food chain. Breeding success will be improved by the re-establishment of traditional pigeon lofts and the adoption of artificially raised chicks. Suitable artificial nesting sites will be provided in all active and abandoned saker falcon territories; and
- Increase the awareness of key stakeholders and the public about the species and its threats: intensive communication will be initiated with all relevant stakeholder groups in order to reduce conflicts of interest and carry out effective conservation measures together. Local communities and the general public will also be regularly informed about the project’s results.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Human-induced mortality decreased by 10% (baseline is 95%)
- The mortality cause for 10% of lost birds is revealed (baseline is 1.4%)
- 20% increase in Saker Falcon breeding success (baseline is 2.04)
- 80 artificial nest platforms installed and at least 20 (25%) used for nesting
- 22 stakeholder workshops organized with >1000 participants
- 10000 visitors of the 'RaptorMobil' exhibitions and educational trail
