In the period 10-14 May 2014, the team of “Lesser Kestrel Recovery” LIFE11 NAT/BG/360 project visited the Lesser Kestrel breeding center run by the Spanish organization DEMA – an Associated Beneficiary within the project. This center provides the small falcons that are translocated to the hacking facility built for this particular purpose by Green Balkans in the village Levka, Sakar, and released into the wild following a short period of adaptation.
In 2013, 90 chicks of this rare species were transported from Almendralejo to Levka. After the successful acclimatization to the new environment and the subsequent migration to Africa, many of them have already returned and started breeding in the nest boxes provided by Green Balkans at the release module.
It is time for the next group of "Spanish immigrants" that will take the long way to Sakar. This was the particular focus of our visit to the center of DEMA. There, the team got closely acquainted with all manipulations and feverish preparations prior to the great journey. Our colleagues from DEMA combined visual demonstrations with constant caretaking of the birds, while the number of eggs and hatchlings grew with every passing hour.
The program, however, was not limited to workshops and practical ex-situ activities. Our team had the chance to visit several colonies in other nearby villages and the surrounding areas. There, we saw what we dream of and what we are longing for in our project – lots of pairs breeding on the roofs of the churches in every settlement, on abandoned or semi-abandoned farms, as well as on top of people's homes.
Of course, we could not miss the opportunity to visit the famous Doñana Biological Station, where we got warm reception from the Director - Dr. Negro, a recognized expert in this species. During the discussions we came up with various ideas for joint initiatives and surveys. Our satisfaction with the meeting was complete when we were invited to witness the transmitter tagging of the female Lesser Kestrel of the pair breeding on the roof of the research institute.
For further information, please contact:
Krasimira Demerdzhieva
Lesser Kestrel Recovery, LIFE11 NAT/BG/360
Technical Assistant
Mobile: +359 884 005 269
E-mail: kdemerdzhieva@greenbalkans.org
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In 2013, 90 chicks of this rare species were transported from Almendralejo to Levka. After the successful acclimatization to the new environment and the subsequent migration to Africa, many of them have already returned and started breeding in the nest boxes provided by Green Balkans at the release module.
It is time for the next group of "Spanish immigrants" that will take the long way to Sakar. This was the particular focus of our visit to the center of DEMA. There, the team got closely acquainted with all manipulations and feverish preparations prior to the great journey. Our colleagues from DEMA combined visual demonstrations with constant caretaking of the birds, while the number of eggs and hatchlings grew with every passing hour.
The program, however, was not limited to workshops and practical ex-situ activities. Our team had the chance to visit several colonies in other nearby villages and the surrounding areas. There, we saw what we dream of and what we are longing for in our project – lots of pairs breeding on the roofs of the churches in every settlement, on abandoned or semi-abandoned farms, as well as on top of people's homes.
Of course, we could not miss the opportunity to visit the famous Doñana Biological Station, where we got warm reception from the Director - Dr. Negro, a recognized expert in this species. During the discussions we came up with various ideas for joint initiatives and surveys. Our satisfaction with the meeting was complete when we were invited to witness the transmitter tagging of the female Lesser Kestrel of the pair breeding on the roof of the research institute.
For further information, please contact:
Krasimira Demerdzhieva
Lesser Kestrel Recovery, LIFE11 NAT/BG/360
Technical Assistant
Mobile: +359 884 005 269
E-mail: kdemerdzhieva@greenbalkans.org
