RADIO-TELEMETRY OF LESSER KESTREL (FALCO NAUMANNI) IN THE COURSE OF REINFORCEMENT OF THE SPECIES IN BULGARIA
PAVLIN ZHELEV1*, GRADIMIR GRADEV1, SIMEON MARIN1
1 - Green Balkans- Stara Zagora NGOs, 9 Stara Planina Str., 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
*Corresponding author: pzhelev@greenbalkans.org
Keywords: Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni, Radiotelemetry, Foraging area, SPA, Natura 2000
Abstract: Despite the fact that Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) was a common species in Bulgaria, there are no detailed surveys on its biology and ecology like the ones implemented in countries still harboring abundant populations, such as Spain, Italy, Greece, etc. After Green Balkans launched the reinforcement of the species in Bulgaria and the establishment of a new breeding colony in the village of Levka, Sakar SPA, it is now possible to study the species using modern technologies and methods. In order to identify the foraging grounds, dispersal areas, and roosting sites of the birds from the newly established colony, in the period 2014-2015 radio transmitters of 2.38 gr were mounted on 6 birds of different age and sex. Two of these birds were male individuals from pairs breeding in 2014, while the rest of the tagged birds were juvenile and non-breeding birds. The hunting grounds of the two breeding Lesser Kestrels were identified, covering areas of 29.70 and 46.80 sq.km. respectively, and almost overlapping in the field. The habitats these birds used to forage during the study period were cereal fields at harvest-time and the stubbles left after the crops have been harvested. The remotest recorded location of a tagged bird was at a distance of 7.08 km from the colony. Two roosting sites and pre-migration gathering areas of the birds from the colony were identified, located at 5.00 km (2014) and 4.30 km (2015) from their nesting sites.