As part of the peregrine falcon protection program of Pilis Nature Conservation Society (PITE) and the Hungarian Society of Ornithology and Nature Conservation (MME), sponsored by MOL the first satellite marker was fastened to a young female falcon on June 8. The experts will follow the bird and thus better understand the main habitats, and can prepare a more efficiently protection program for the species. In the program, supported by MOL and the Norwegian Civil Foundation, total four young falcons will be equipped with satellite markers.

As MOL is fully committed to sustainable development the company has decided, at the employees’ initiations at Algyő, to sponsor the program, hence a peregrine falcon occupied a nest at one of the towers of the gas technology facilities at Algyő. Experts explain that it is an extraordinary event that this rare species of birds has accepted a man-made nest. The first occurrence that a peregrine falcon spent the winter in a similar man-made nest was in 2006 at the Algyő gas technology and the bird has every year returned to this nest ever since. Experts plan to fasten a marker on this falcon this autumn.

Peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth. This species, as nesting in our country, became extinct in Hungary during the 60ies. The last successful nesting was registered in 1964. As pesticides (primarily DDT) were widely used the peregrine falcon headcount was indeed decimated in the Northern hemisphere: 90% of the nesting falcon pairs disappeared. As in many countries, also in Hungary this species became extinct.

Once DDT was banned, the number of peregrine falcon has started increasing, but the headcount has still fallen short behind the former numbers. In Hungary after 33 years one falcon pair successfully nested in 1997. The recovery rate is fairly slow: the number of bird pairs is still less then twenty, which also implies that we have a low-number, consequently very vulnerable falcon population.

Migration of young falcons, including the dangers they face, should be better understood in order that we can provide efficient protection to these birds. Once we have captured this information we will be in the position to develop an effective protection program. To this effect satellite markers will be fastened onto falcons, as it has proved to be very efficient in case of lanners (falco ch. cherrug). The weight of these solar cell powered GPS transmitters is 22 grams, and they will send the information to a satellite named Argos, which forwards the data to a receiver station located in France. This station will then send the signals to the online database, and experts will have access to this base and can download the raw data through the internet. This system will help in mapping the key areas where these birds move and also the hazard factors. Once we have the information base we will be able to prepare an efficient protection program supporting the development of the peregrine falcon species.

Results will be also available for persons interested in such issues through the following link: www.vandorsolymok.hu, where falcons can be traced using the interactive maps.