Saker falcons celebrate comeback in Lower Austria: Hope for species protection!

Saker falcons celebrate comeback in Lower Austria: Hope for species protection!

The Sakerfalke, an almost extinct bird species in Austria, returns in Lower Austria thanks to an innovative project. At the end of the 1970s, the species was very endangered, but now there is a positive trend. The cooperation between wildlife researchers and the energy industry, especially between Richard Zink from the Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology of the Vetmeduni Vienna and Johannes Neuditschko from Netzen Austria, the return of the saker falcons is made possible. This cooperation is considered a lived responsibility and impressively shows how species protection can work in modern times, especially in the face of the biodiversity crisis.

An important part of the project is to build brood boxes on electricity pylons. Around 95 percent of the breeding pairs of the saker falcon use these nesting aids. The young animals, which are hatched in mid -March, are now sailed by the experts to document their movements, breeding behavior and their age. This data is crucial for understanding the type and its protection. The incubator on the Strommast 43 along the 110 kV line between Stockerau and Hollabrunn plays a central role here. The system is made after the system has been activated by the system operator to ensure the security of the researchers.

The way to inventory regeneration

The recovery of the saker falconal stock is the result of careful planning and the provision of suitable nesting options. These birds do not move into their own nests, but often use the abandoned nests of other bird species, including birds of prey, ravens and herons. As a result, the breeding pairs can benefit from the nesting aids provided on the electricity pylons and can reproduce well under the given conditions. Richard Zink emphasizes the Engagement of Netz Lower Austria and describes it as exemplary in terms of species protection.

The project is a positive example of species protection at a time when many animal species are under pressure. In view of this challenge, the wwf emphasizes the relevance of such initiatives. As a result of the partnership between the energy industry and the scientists, the saker falcon becomes not only a symbol of species protection, but also an ambassador for biodiversity.

summarized this approach not only enables the return of a protected manner, but also demonstrates how cooperation protection can be actively promoted through cooperation and innovative solutions. The future of the saker falcon in Lower Austria looks promising.