Although much less widespread and is less popular than its parent Peregrine F alco peregrinus , Eleonora's Falcon, Falco scientifically called eleonorae is equally amazing, in fact, far less known.
Eleonora's Falcon. Ave This is a slightly smaller, graceful and lighter than the famous peregrine falcon as it belongs to the genus Falco , cladistically classified in the family Falconidae, specifically in the subfamily Falconinae, located in the Order Falconiformes . Falco eleonorae has a length of between thirty-five and forty-five centimeters, its size usually does not exceed eighty-five centimeters in adulthood minimum and maximum five hundred. It is known to nest in coastal environments of the Mediterranean Sea during the migration period of the Passeriformes and the International Union for Conservation of Nature finds that global population has a lower risk, so the concern about conservation of the species is small but necessary preventive track. The world's wild population has been estimated Eleonor twenty thousand breeding pairs, which breed in Autumn being the European Raptor nest later on due to this adjustment to intercept migratory birds.
Ignorance about the ecology and biology of this unusual predatory bird described by the Italian Naturalist Carlo Giuseppe Gené in the first half of the nineteenth century is widespread, little has been documented its hunting technique, the details of their reproduction and enclaves nesting along the Mediterranean coast and islands, but that almost nothing was known, at least until a few months ago, it was about their migration, since it is known that the Raptor a journey that takes you to the areas registered southern Madagascar and southeast Africa. However, this lack of has dissipated in part thanks to the work carried out by the University of Alicante English, through its Research Group of Vertebrate Zoology, sponsored by the regional government of Valencia. Biologists
team began its work in the year 2007, capturing three copies in the Balearic Islands (Spain) and installations in record time GPS tracking system attached to the torso ultralight Animal with a Teflon harness, hygienic and low abrasion to avoid any discomfort or injury Ave 2008 macadas with this technique were eight birds, two in the same area and six in the archipelago Columbretes. Other five were under surveillance satellite Raptors last year, this time all caught in that Park. To retrieve the electronic systems was necessary to install a strategic trap destination in the region in Madagascar, using a "Japanese fabric" modified and using a nocturnal bird of prey taxidermy as bait.
The result of the operation is as revealing as amazing. Monitoring indicates that after childbearing, Birds fly over the Mediterranean and directly across the African continent rather than following the coastal strip as had been hypothesized, they do so deep into the Sahara through Algeria and across the desert, stopping only for descarsar in the dark of night. This is the least expected way, since it requires great effort and significant investment of energy flying over the arid region and that they just have to prey to predators, which is why its migration occurs almost linearly without deviation. Arrived at the southeast tip of the Sahara, the Falcons diminish their flight height and speed to hunt and feed in the more benign Sahel ecosystem, this attitude is reflected in the most irregular and wandering path of Birds for prey . With renewed strength and is still a long way to go, the Raptor flying at higher speeds on the forests of equatorial Africa to find the fabulous Lake Victoria; geo-referenced visual and apparently is of vital importance for the orientation of Birds, because from here vary significantly due to cross the plains to the savannahs of Tanzania Mozambique Channel, last ride in their migration to Madagascar.
Ignorance about the ecology and biology of this unusual predatory bird described by the Italian Naturalist Carlo Giuseppe Gené in the first half of the nineteenth century is widespread, little has been documented its hunting technique, the details of their reproduction and enclaves nesting along the Mediterranean coast and islands, but that almost nothing was known, at least until a few months ago, it was about their migration, since it is known that the Raptor a journey that takes you to the areas registered southern Madagascar and southeast Africa. However, this lack of has dissipated in part thanks to the work carried out by the University of Alicante English, through its Research Group of Vertebrate Zoology, sponsored by the regional government of Valencia. Biologists
team began its work in the year 2007, capturing three copies in the Balearic Islands (Spain) and installations in record time GPS tracking system attached to the torso ultralight Animal with a Teflon harness, hygienic and low abrasion to avoid any discomfort or injury Ave 2008 macadas with this technique were eight birds, two in the same area and six in the archipelago Columbretes. Other five were under surveillance satellite Raptors last year, this time all caught in that Park. To retrieve the electronic systems was necessary to install a strategic trap destination in the region in Madagascar, using a "Japanese fabric" modified and using a nocturnal bird of prey taxidermy as bait.
The result of the operation is as revealing as amazing. Monitoring indicates that after childbearing, Birds fly over the Mediterranean and directly across the African continent rather than following the coastal strip as had been hypothesized, they do so deep into the Sahara through Algeria and across the desert, stopping only for descarsar in the dark of night. This is the least expected way, since it requires great effort and significant investment of energy flying over the arid region and that they just have to prey to predators, which is why its migration occurs almost linearly without deviation. Arrived at the southeast tip of the Sahara, the Falcons diminish their flight height and speed to hunt and feed in the more benign Sahel ecosystem, this attitude is reflected in the most irregular and wandering path of Birds for prey . With renewed strength and is still a long way to go, the Raptor flying at higher speeds on the forests of equatorial Africa to find the fabulous Lake Victoria; geo-referenced visual and apparently is of vital importance for the orientation of Birds, because from here vary significantly due to cross the plains to the savannahs of Tanzania Mozambique Channel, last ride in their migration to Madagascar.
flyway. In total, Eleonora's Falcon performed a migration of more than ten thousand kilometers from their nesting areas until the autumn of southern enclaves Winter, traveling between two and three hundred miles a day during daylight hours at a speed half from seventy to eighty miles per hour. Satellite tracking has revealed further that the birds do not stop at any point in the Mozambique channel, so for the first time all the way immigration should fly day and night without rest, effort worthwhile given the proximity their winter destination.
More logic is, however, the path back to the Mediterranean, as the Falcons directly cross the stretch of Indian Ocean to Somalia to make the trip after the trip spent on the Sahara. After reaching the said territory at the height of spring, the birds move between Europe and the Mediterranean islands in search of food until the autumn once again announce the time procreate.
The results of this study, which has not finished but already provides important details, can be compared with those obtained by a group of German Ornotólogos installed on the Italian island of Sardinia, another enclave vital for the reproduction of eleonorae . Both studies are pioneers of what constitutes the first reliable record of the migration of this tenacious bird of prey, which had so far only a few widely scattered observations and some guesswork. This means that in the near future will be possible to determine the real impact of changing land and ecosystems in the flyway, while appreciating the threats which are pressing that beset the species in order to preserve the taxa for the future.
Despite the enormous progress made, this project is part of a larger study and long, it's about time we get more details about this fascinating bird of prey, Eleonora's Falcon.
More logic is, however, the path back to the Mediterranean, as the Falcons directly cross the stretch of Indian Ocean to Somalia to make the trip after the trip spent on the Sahara. After reaching the said territory at the height of spring, the birds move between Europe and the Mediterranean islands in search of food until the autumn once again announce the time procreate.
The results of this study, which has not finished but already provides important details, can be compared with those obtained by a group of German Ornotólogos installed on the Italian island of Sardinia, another enclave vital for the reproduction of eleonorae . Both studies are pioneers of what constitutes the first reliable record of the migration of this tenacious bird of prey, which had so far only a few widely scattered observations and some guesswork. This means that in the near future will be possible to determine the real impact of changing land and ecosystems in the flyway, while appreciating the threats which are pressing that beset the species in order to preserve the taxa for the future.
Despite the enormous progress made, this project is part of a larger study and long, it's about time we get more details about this fascinating bird of prey, Eleonora's Falcon.
