News
In late April, the team of “Lesser Kestrel Recovery” LIFE11 NAT/BG/360 project, implemented by Green Balkans, carried out a research expedition for studying the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in the European part of Turkey.
“Following the shadows of the kestrels” is a story by Dimo Bozhkov dating back in the mid-20th century. The author describes the Lesser Kestrels observed in the Old Town of the city of Plovdiv, the hills of the city, residential buildings, churches, etc.
Unfortunately, nowadays the elegant falcons have gone extinct as a breeding species not only in Plovdiv, but throughout Bulgaria. Therefore, Green Balkans initiated a research expedition for studying the Lesser Kestrel breeding colonies in the European part of Turkey. The team has recent data about the presence of breeding Lesser Kestrels in this region gathered during previous surveys.
The expedition was carried out with the support of the Turkish nature conservation organization DAYKO http://www.dayko.org.tr/, which has been a partner of Green Balkans in different initiatives implemented in recent years.
During the survey in the southern neighboring country, the experts recorded active breeding colonies of these rare birds, as well as the preferred nesting sites, prey species, and hunting grounds. The major breeding habitats recorded during the survey were mostly old house and farm buildings, with Lesser Kestrels breeding under the roofs and the roof tiles.
The results of the survey and the monitoring of the natural colonies of Lesser Kestrels will be the basis of the process of restoring the breeding of the species in Bulgaria within “Lesser Kestrel Recovery” LIFE11 NAT/BG/360 project. The data related to the location of the nests, the prey species, the hunting perimeter, the interaction with other bird species breeding in the same area, and many other peculiarities of the life of the Lesser Kestrels will contribute to the selection of appropriate conservation activities that would support the process of restoring the breeding of the Lesser Kestrels in Bulgaria. These measures will contribute to the successful release and subsequent adaptation of the juvenile Lesser Kestrels, which will be released into the wild within the “Lesser Kestrel Recovery” project.
As a result of the expedition, several alarming trends, threatening the Lesser Kestrels, have been identified. These threats are mostly related to destruction of old buildings harboring breeding birds, repair and modernization of the roof constructions, low abundance and isolation of the colonies, and other factors.
In addition to the important data gathered during the expedition, there was another significant achievement – namely, popularity among and support from the local communities. This support is illustrated in the publication related to the expedition in one of the most popular daily newspapers in Turkey – The Sabah, acquainting the readers with Green Balkans’ initiative.
For further information, please contact:
Gradimir Gradev
Project Manager
“Lesser Kestrel Recovery” LIFE11 NAT/BG/360
Tel.: +359 885 609 289
Е-mail: ggradev@greenbalkans.org
