More than 80 endangered birds equipped with GPS device can be followed via the internet

 

The project to tag and follow endangered birds is coordinated by BirdLife Hungary and funded by the European Union’s LIFE Nature program and Hungary-Slovakia Cross-border Co-operation Programme (HUSK). Since its launch numerous Hungarian and international bird-protecting organizations have joined it. This satellite tracking method represents the most advanced technology in telemetry available today, while its application is unique in the region.

The tags are equipped with special solar powered, small sized GPS devices which do not affect the movement and behavior of the tracked birds, while continuously recording and transmitting their position. They provide invaluable information on the relocation, migratory routes and also on the risks the birds facing. The number of individuals followed by this technique has been growing persistently in the past few years thanks to the hard work of contributors from Hungary and the neighboring countries. The White stork (Ciconia ciconia), the Red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), the Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) and the Saker falcon (Falco cherrug) are emblematic representatives of the birdlife protection but many aspects of their behavior are still unclear. By means of this initiation, migratory routes of the White storks and the wintering sites of the Red-footed Falcons have been already unveiled. With the online application now made public, information on the location and past movement of more than 80 individuals of the above mentioned 4 species is accessible. Transmitters of 20 birds are still active at the moment.

Following Eastern imperial eagles are of special importance since many of these rare birds of prey had been victims of human activity in the past few years. In the number of crimes against birds including purposeful poisoning, Hungary is in the lead in Europe. The aim of the Imperial Eagle Conservation LIFE+ project of BirdLife Hungary is to gather information on such illegal activities with the help of these tagged individuals. Mapping migratory routes would make it possible to plan and start preventive conservation activities in affected areas. Nine young imperial eagles equipped with satellite tags this year had been named after Olympics gold medalist Hungarian athletes.