24. August 2010
A new and very interesting paper about the hybridization between the Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga and the Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina in Europe has recently been published and made available for download on the website by Bernd Ulrich Meyburg:
Väli, Ü., V. Dombrovski, R. Treinys, U. Bergmanis, S. J. Daróczi, M. Dravecky, V. Ivanovski, J. Lontkowski, G. Maciorowski, B.-U. Meyburg, T. Mizera, R. Zeitz & H. Ellegren 2010: Widespread hybridization between the Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga and the Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina (Aves: Accipitriformes) in Europe. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 100: 725-736.
Download:
http://www.raptor-research.de/pdfs/a_rp800p/a_rp803_Widespread_hybridization.pdf
Also have a look at the many other interesting publications available on this website:
http://raptor-research.de
9. November 2009
The exact migration route of the Eleonora’s Falcon has long been a mystery.
Satellite telemetry has helped in recent years to find out more about the migration of this elegant raptor. This year, for the first time in Greece, 2 adult and 2 juvenile falcons were equipped with satellite transmitters in their breeding colony on the island of Andros.
The movement of those 4 birds can be followed via the project’s website:
Satellite telemetry of Eleonora’s Falcon migration
The migratory journey of Eleonora’s Falcons – with Maps
20. September 2009
This year, 8 Red-footed Falcons from Hungary are tracked via Satellite. Two have already left Hungary and are located north of the Black Sea coast.
The birds and their movements can also be followed on the web.
This is part of a LIFE project for the conservation of the Red-footed Falcon in the Pannonian Region.
More information:
Conservation of the Red-footed Falcon in the Pannonian Region
Overview of tagged birds.
Map with the location of the birds
17. September 2009
The Egyptian Vulture is one of the most endangered raptors in Europe. Illegal poisoning and habitat loss are a constant threat in many areas.
Another threat are high levels of toxic substances in the birds, like pathogens of poultry and pigeons, antibiotics and non-steroidal antiinflamatory drugs. Those substances have been found in Egyptian Vultures in Bulgaria. (see here for details).
In order to find out more about that problem, this year, BSPB (Birdlife Bulgaria) did a made toxicology sampling of all 25 unfledged juvenile vultures this year. Also, all birds were ringed.
The toxicological samples will be analysed in Madrid, Spain. The final results of this study will be published in 2010.
The Egyptian Vulture has declined dramatically in Bulgaria. From 2003 to 2008, the species declined from 57 to 35 pairs. The high levels of toxins probably play an important role in the species’ decline.
More information:
Alarming results from toxicology study on the Egyptian vulture in Bulgaria
BSPB made toxicology sampling and ringed all juvenile Egyptian Vultures in Bulgaria
30. August 2009
The Saker Falcon Falco Cherrug is a globally endangered raptor species. In Europe, there are only about 450 breeding pairs. During the last years, the populations in Hungary, Austria and Slovakia have increased.
In order to learn more about the endangered falcons and the biology, some birds in Hungary have been fitted with a satellite transmitter. This allows to gain exact knowledge about the movements of the birds. If a bird dies, the cause of death can often be found out. This provides crucial information for conservation projects.
Detailed information about the work can be found on the project’s website.
A very interesting dispersal route was taken by one female Saker Falcon who moved to Spain and has already spend some time there (the bird appeared there in early August).
This shows that a Saker Falcon who is seen far away from it’s breeding area in eastern Europe is not always an escaped falconry bird.
More information:
Conservation of Saker (Falco cherrug) in the Carpathian Basin
Satellite-tracked Hungarian Saker (Falco cherrug) in N Spain