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At the end of 2020, the Birds of Prey Protection Foundation received a flattering recognition for its decadeslong work. The “Reliable organization” certificate was awarded by “CompanyWall business”.

– “Reliable organization” certificate

We still follow our Ognjenka, a young female Short toed Eagle in Africa, every day. It has been three months since she “wintered” in Sudan and Chad.

25.01.2021. year, her current position is – Chad. In 92 days, she flew 4778 km or an average of 51.93 km/day. The highest recorded height of flight is 3343 m above sea level, but she has risen so high only a few times. Mostly all the time below 2000 m above sea level. The highest recorded flight speed is 101 km/h.

3 months of “wintering” Ognjenka, 25.10.2020-25.01.2021. year

You have more general information about Ognjenka, the autumn migration on page… »

You can find out about the Satellite Telemetry program of the Birds of Prey Protection Foundation here… »

Ognjenka, photo M. Vučanović

Sorry, this entry is only available in српски.

Sorry, this entry is only available in српски.

The Birds of Prey Protection Foundation has introduced video surveillance of a very important feeding station for Griffon Vultures in the Special Nature Reserve “Gorge of the river Trešnjica” and thus included it in the surveillance of feeding stations that have this type of control. Surveillance was introduced as one of the results of project: “Management of the population of the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in the Special Nature Reserves: “Gorge of the river Trešnjica” and “Uvac” by applying the program of marking and monitoring using satellite technology and video surveillance, 2019.”

– Link… »

Monitoring of nesting pairs in Trešnjica has been going on since 1980. After the poisoning, the number of active nests was reduced to only one in 1995, when the Special Nature Reserve was declared. The colony then recovered, but the number did not exceed 16 active pairs. The feeding station on Trešnjica was opened in 1989 and is still active.

In addition to satellite telemetry , video surveillance of feeding stations and gathering places is the most efficient way of collecting data in order to plan further measures of active protection. Until recently, we did not have it on Trešnjica, so we did not have an accurate insight into the extent to which Griffon Vultures visit the feeding station, the age structure of the birds, whether the individuals we marked on Uvac also appear, etc. Important information is which animals “use” this place and planning the amount of food that should be taken out at different times of the year.

We quickly found out that the feeding station on Trešnjica was very visited. Usually a flock of twenty to thirty birds comes. In addition to vultures and, of course, numerous ravens, a pair of adult White-tailed Eagles also appear, as well as foxes, jackals, and even bear.

This year’s vulture was also noted, who was marked on the nest on Uvac at the end of May with the wing mark “12” by the Vultures Marking Team of the Foundation. He was named Trešnjica.

Trešnjica

About marking vultures in 2020 – here … »

After more than two years of satellite tracking of our Griffon Vulture Zlatar, unfortunately, we got bad news. The Zlatar died in Greece!

Until recently, he cruised the entire Balkans ( more about it here … » ), he even spent some time in the Alps, only to descend to a vulture colony in Greece about a month ago.

06.11.2020 We noticed that we had an “urgent situation” when we noticed that the temperature shown by the transmitter had dropped sharply and that the device was in an unnatural position. It is immediately located near the “artificial pool” on a mountain in Greece. We urgently informed our colleagues from Greece, as well as Bulgaria, with whom we jointly supervise the Griffon Vultures in the “poison detection detective” program in the Balkans.

Colleagues from Greece reacted swiftly! They were already at the location within two hours, but, unfortunately, it was too late for Zlatar. The bird was in the water, dead.

Zlatar died in Greece, 06.11.2020.

The remains of the Griffon Vulture were taken to Athens for an autopsy. We still don’t know for sure what the cause of death was, but five days ago, Griffon poisoning with a Bulgarian transmitter, Kelly, was reported in the region. Therefore, there is a well-founded suspicion that Zlatar was also poisoned. However, we will wait for the results of the toxicological analysis of the competent institutions in Greece.

Regardless of the news, which shook us all, it turned out that there was excellent cooperation and fast communication with colleagues from Bulgaria and Greece regarding the supervision of vultures in the satellite telemetry program, which is crucial for further work on the protection of vultures, but also other species that are endangered by both illegal poisoning and other factors due to which they suffer. It is certain that a large number of our vultures suffer when they leave Uvac, and we can only assume the exact number. Our activities are aimed at eliminating the risk and reducing mortality of these endangered species.

“Famous” video of the release of Zlatar on Uvac, after recovery, at the beginning of September 2018.

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