Recovering the Saker Falcon population of the North-Hungarian Plain

ongoing

The main objective of the project is to stop and reverse the decreasing trend of the targeted Saker Falcon population in the North-Hungarian Plain. The aim is to reach a 20% increase in both population size and breeding success during the project period. (1) Decrease human-induced mortality: An intensive surveillance system will be operated in the breeding territories in order to urgently detect and eliminate existing problems. The mortality along power lines will be handled as first priority, but special attention will be given towards persecution crime cases as well. (2) Reveal the unknown causes of mortality and breeding failure: Increase significantly the detection rate of mortality incidents and to undertake proper pathological investigation of dead individuals, but also a complex health survey of alive breeding birds. The possibilities of pesticide and lead poisoning, diseases and the effects of electromagnetic radiation on high-voltage power lines will be the main focus for the investigations. (3) Increase breeding success by the increased availability of prey species and nesting sites: The restoration of the extensive dirt road network, as semi-natural field margins between large homogenous agricultural parcels, will be the key element of the project in order 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. (4) Increase the awareness of key stakeholders and the public on the species and threatening factors: Intensive communication with all relevant stakeholder groups will be initiated in order to decrease the conflicts of interest and execute effective conservation measures in cooperation. Besides, local communities and the general public will be also continuously informed about the project results.