Newsletter: Joint Action of two LIFE Projects for Eleonora’s falcon

The Andros LIFE project (ANDROSSPA www.androslife.gr) and the ElClimA LIFE project, which implement actions for the protection of the Eleonora’s falcon held their first joint action: a visit to the islets of Andros and Mikres Cyclades -by the vessel “Calypso” of Andros LIFE project- where actions to control the populations of terrestrial predators and construct artificial nests to improve the breeding conditions of Eleonora’s falcon are taking place.

The Eleonora’s falcon nests on the Aegean islands on late summer, exploiting the autumn migration of small birds, to feed its chicks. It seems that climate change has already begun to affect the species and the need to limit human pressures added to the climate change pressure, and to provide suitable habitats for nesting on the Aegean Islands is imperative for the protection and conservation of the species. The Eleonora’s falcon is an emblematic species of the Aegean region, since 85% of its world population is hosted in the region.

Mr. Isidoros Nikolaou, the head of LIFE Andros, said “The excellent cooperation with the ElClimA LIFE project on the islets of Mikres Cyclades provided the opportunity for both the teams  to upgrade their experience and knowledge on issues of common interest. The coordinated action gave a big boost to our operational capability, which is to the benefit of both projects. ”

The Andros LIFE project is in its last year, completing a cycle of actions for the Eleonora’s falcon on Andros islets that have contributed significantly to improving breeding success through the installation of artificial nests to reinforce the natural nesting sites and the removal of rats from the islets, resulting in the recovery of the vegetation and the reduction of eggs’ and chicks’ mortality. The ElClima LIFE project is ongoing and takes place in seven locations scattered throughout the Aegean, from Limnos Island to Karpathos and Gramvousa, where actions will take place both to improve the nesting sites of the Eleonora’s falcon and to provide suitable habitats for migratory birds. By these actions the two projects will provide the right conditions, in order the species to cope as long as possible with the ongoing climate change, which is expected to intensify in the coming years.

The artificial nests for the Eleonora’s falcon are made with natural materials of the islets © Archive NCC

The project researchers, during their visit to the islets, checked the network of bait stations for terrestrial predators © Archive NCC

The visit to the islets was made by the vessel “Calypso” of Andros LIFE project © Archive NCC