Fondacija za zaštitu ptica grabljivica - Beograd

FONDACIJA ZA ZAŠTITU PTICA GRABLJIVICA - BEOGRAD
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    • Virtual “adoption” and “Naming” the Griffon Vultures
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  • Satellite telemetry
    • Satellite telemetry
    • Satellite (GPS/GSM) tracking of the Griffon Vulture species (Gyps fulvus)
    • Satellite (GPS/GSM) tracking Short-toed Eagle species (Circaetus gallicus)
    • Satellite (GPS/GSM) tracking of White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
  • Projects..
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    • Belgrade’s Falcons
    • Managing population of the Griffon Vulture using satellite technology, 2018.
    • Managing population of Griffon Vulture in the SRP, “Trešnjica” and “Uvac” using program of marking and monitoring with satellite technology and video surveillance, 2019.
    • Project: “Belgrade Ring Research Ornithological Center”
    • Program of recovery of the population European Rollers (Coracias garrulus) in Šumadija
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      • Common Kestrel’s nests, video surveillance
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Belgrade falcons

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Few Belgraders know that there are two species of falcons nesting in Belgrade. The ancient deity Horus,
a symbol of victory and infinite freedom, a peregrin falcon Falco peregrinus has found itself on the hand
of the Victor in the Kalemegdan Park and has become a symbol of the city of Belgrade. While a large
number of species are going extinct, peregrin falcon and common kestrel have adapted to the Belgrade
noise and crown, and have accepted to share their living space with us. We can also share our living
space with falcons, the species that have agreed to make nests on our balconies. Belgraders rarely look
up at the sky, thus missing out on the perfect flight of top urban predators while sitting in Belgrade
parks, waiting for a bus or simply while looking out through their windows. Although the peregrin falcon
is a protected species, pigeon breeders haunt it and for this reason we are not giving away the locations
of its sighting.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF VERSION OF THE BOOK “BEOGRADSKI SOKOLOVI” (BELGRADE FALCONS)

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Do they nest on your balcony as well?

Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

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Increasingly less available food in nature has forced these species to come and adjust to urban
settlements. Scattered waste constitutes ample source of food for rodents and pigeons that procreate in
urban areas apparently limitlessly. This large source of food attracts predators into towns where they
play their predatory role in the selection of the catch.

During two decades of monitoring in urban and suburban areas covering 108 km2, we have marked
around 300 nests of common kestrels in Belgrade. The number of active couples varies between 130 and
180 depending on the year. The average population density in Belgrade is 1.6 couples per square
kilometre. In some parts of the city there have been no nests observed, while at some high-rise buildings
in Vidikovac, Zemun and Novi Beograd they nest in groups up to 9 couples separated only by different
floors. On an average, common kestrels annually eat up to 13 tons of rodents and lizards in Belgrade. By
leaving space for the placement of nests when designing high-rise buildings, it would be made possible
that these zealous cleaners of Belgrade do their “job” more ardently. Birds of prey accumulate hazardous

matters from their habitat through their prey, thus being indicators of the quality of the environment
and the consequences of pollution. They are the first to show adverse consequences of different
pesticides and heavy metals, as they are more sensitive to them than mammals. Presence of birds of
prey is a sign that we live in a relatively un-polluted environment.

Falcons do not build nests, but rather they nest in holes in facades, concrete jardinières and ventilation
pipes. Their nesting starts at the end of April and they lay eggs until June. They may lay up to 6 eggs, 4.5
on an average, and the eggs incubate over a period of 27-29 days. On an average, they raise 4 chicks that
start flying after 27-32 days. The entire cycle takes 60 days. They may create problems with their high-
pitch screeching which they use to greet one another and which wakes up people at dawn. If we want to
preserve the diversity of life we have to accept that others also share their living space with us. Common
kestrel is a rare bird of prey that has managed to adapt to our urban spaces where it is even more
successful than in its natural habitat.

Students of the Faculty of Biology monitor common kestrels in Belgrade. They mark nesting sites,
number of eggs and number of hatched chicks. The chicks are ringed by a coloured tag in order to
monitor birds from different parts of the city. Common kestrels are resident birds, so ringed specimen
are usually found around the city. However, a common kestrel from Vidikovac was found in Tunisia the
following winter at the distance of 1230 km, while another one died near Naples (Salerno in Italy) 633 km
away.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF VERSION OF THE BOOK “BEOGRADSKI SOKOLOVI” (BELGRADE FALCONS)

Mužjak,  foto Saša Preradović

Male, photo by Sasa Preradovic

Ženka, foto Geza Farkaš

Female, photo by Geza Farkas

Gnezda vetruški na Vidikovacu i Ušću

Common kestrel nests in Vidikovac and Usce

Karta gnezda vetruški

Common kestrel nests’ map

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Vesti

  • Priključite nam se u poseti rezervatima Dadija i Studen Kladents 03/23/2023
  • Report on the monitoring of the Griffon Vulture population in SRP “Uvac” in 2022. 01/20/2023
  • Sex ratio and relatedness in the Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) population of Serbia 12/07/2022
  • Doktorska disertacija: “Ekološka studija beloglavog supa (Gyps fulvus) u Srbiji: populaciona dinamika i uticaj aktivnih mera zaštite” 10/21/2022
  • International Vulture Awareness Day, september 2022. 09/23/2022
  • Marija in the satellite telemetry program for 4 years! 09/04/2022
  • International Vulture Awareness Day, 3-4.9.2022. Uvac 08/07/2022
  • The marking of Griffon Vultures was successfully completed in 2022 06/16/2022
  • Obeleženo 28 godina postojanja Fondacije 05/16/2022
  • The 28th anniversary of the Foundation is celebrated in Trešnjica, May 14, 2022 05/04/2022
  • Spanish vultures in the Balkans 04/22/2022
  • A new paper on the genetic analysis of Griffon Vultures has been published 01/24/2022
  • Calendar for 2022 12/31/2021
  • Exhibition of photographs from the XVII competition in 2021 12/22/2021
  • Report on marking and monitoring of Griffon Vultures in SRN “Uvac”, 2021. 12/20/2021
  • The Audience Award was given … 12/20/2021
  • Photo exhibition opened at the “Vlada Divljan” Cultural Center 12/12/2021
  • Awarded photographs at the XVII competition “Birds in action” 11/06/2021
  • Ognjenka and Vid in the satellite telemetry program 10/01/2021
  • XVII Competition for the best photo of 2021 – “Birds in action!” 09/25/2021
  • INTERNATIONAL VULTURE AWARENESS DAY, 4-5.9.2021. UVAC 09/07/2021
  • International Vulture Awareness Day, 4-5.9.2021. Uvac 08/25/2021
  • The marking of Griffon Vultures in 2021 was successfully completed 06/17/2021
  • The Belgrade white-tailed eagle is marked and in the satellite telemetry program! 05/22/2021
  • Ognjenka started the spring migration! 05/06/2021
  • Donation for the Belgrade White-tailed Eagle 02/15/2021
  • Certificate of reliable work of the Foundation… 02/12/2021
  • Three months of wintering in Ognjenka in Africa 01/25/2021
  • Exhibition of photographs from the XVI competition in 2020 01/21/2021
  • Luka died in a shelter in Blagaj 01/11/2021
  • Luka is returning home 12/15/2020
  • Video surveillance of the feeding station on Trešnjica 12/10/2020
  • The Zlatar died in Greece 11/07/2020
  • Awarded Photos from the XVI Best Photo Contest 2020 – “Birds in Action!” 11/05/2020
  • Ban on flights for civil aircraft over Uvac, Trešnjica and Milesevka! 10/27/2020
  • Poster – “Let’s bring the Rollers back to Šumadija” 10/25/2020
  • Ognjenka in Sudan! 10/18/2020
  • A week of “travel” of our Ognjenka. 10/03/2020
  • Ognjenka, young female short-toed eagle started the migration! 09/27/2020
  • Program of recovery of the population European Rollers (Coracias garrulus) in Šumadija 09/26/2020
  • XVI Competition for the best photo of 2020 – “Birds in action!” 09/14/2020
  • International Vulture Awareness Day, 5.9.2020. Uvac, Trešnjica, Blagaj… 09/06/2020
  • Died golden eagle that was shot in SNR “Uvac” 09/01/2020
  • International Vulture Day, 2020 08/31/2020
  • Report on marking and monitoring of Griffon Vultures in SRN “Uvac”, 2020. 08/29/2020
  • Illegal helicopter flights over SRP “Uvac” 08/29/2020
  • “Vultures above the borders” 07/30/2020
  • Short-toed Eagle in satellite telemetry program 07/30/2020
  • 26 Griffon Vultures marked on Uvac – in 2020! 06/15/2020
  • The transmitter for the white-tailed eagle on VRO waiting for next season 06/09/2020
  • The first shift on the marking of Griffon Vultures in the Uvac 2020 completed its work and happily came back home! 06/08/2020
  • Griffon vultures Vasilije and Nebojsa are cruising Uvac again 06/08/2020
  • The monitoring of vultures in cooperation with colleagues from Bulgaria 05/05/2020
  • Luka is in the shelter in Blagaj in Hercegovina 04/29/2020
  • 19 Months of Daily Satellite Monitoring of the Griffon Vultures: “Zlatar” and “Marija mts” 04/07/2020
  • Movement of Luka in the Gorge of the river Trešnjica in the period 20-30.03.2020. years 03/30/2020
  • Pustanje Luke, Tresnjica 7.3.2020. 03/09/2020
  • Predrag Bata Ristanovic, one of the founders of the Foundation and a longtime president 02/24/2020
  • Vulture mortality 2019. 02/23/2020
  • Returning Luke to the colony on Trešnjica 02/23/2020
  • Audience Award went to photo… 12/16/2019
  • 2019. Photo Exhibition. 12/08/2019
  • Unfortunately, Dobrila is no longer with us 12/06/2019
  • Resolved “Emergency” situation with Igor… 11/28/2019
  • Marked Griffon Vulture from Trešnjica 11/12/2019
  • Awarded Photos from the XV Best Photo Contest 2019 – “Birds in Action!” 11/12/2019
  • The lecture “Managing a population of Griffon Vulture” in the Faculty of Biology in Belgrade 11/05/2019
  • Griffon Vulture from Trešnjica – a candidate who needs to bring a new satellite transmitter 11/02/2019
  • At the European Conference on the Protection of Vultures in Portugal, the Foundation presented the work 10/09/2019
  • XV Competition for the best photo of 2019 – “Birds in action!” 09/11/2019

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