Saker falcon, chosen as Hungary’s Bird of the Year in 2024, had a record-breaking year in the country. Experts from MME-BirdLife Hungary and national park directorates registered 530 fledglings from 200 nesting pairs.
As in previous years, experts involved in the Saker Falcon Conservation Program monitored nesting activity from early February, later recording the number of fledglings. Across Hungary, 200 nesting pairs were identified, of which 177 successfully raised chicks. The program’s success is reflected in the fact that:„This year, more Saker Falcon fledglings and juveniles were registered in Hungary than ever before – 530 in total, which is 100 more birds than last year,” said János Bagyura, the national coordinator of MME-BirdLife Hungary’ Saker Falcon Conservation Program. On average, the observed pairs raised three fledglings per nest.
The Saker falcon, also known as the „turul bird” from Hungary’s origin myths, is an iconic species of national conservation efforts. Its entire European population is estimated at just 450 pairs, and observations in 2024 suggest that Hungary currently hosts 200-220 breeding pairs.
Studying the dispersal and mortality of young birds is critical for the species’ protection. To this end, GPS transmitters were installed on 22 chicks from seven nests in the Jászság and Heves Plains regions in May 2024. By the end of the year, data showed that 11 of these birds had died, and one was illegally captured in Libya. Two birds went missing in the war zone of Eastern Ukraine, likely due to the failure of regional GPS and mobile networks. Thanks to the GPS tracking system, the remains of all deceased tagged birds were recovered, which is an exceptional achievement. This allowed experts to conduct detailed analyses of the causes of death. In addition to the tagged birds, the remains of four other Saker falcons were found in 2024.
Investigations revealed the following causes of death for 15 individuals: five died from electrocution, four were killed by predation (e.g., foxes or mustelids) or injury shortly after fledging, two succumbed to disease, three died from unknown causes, and the cause of death for one bird is still under investigation. Tragically, the illegal capture of two Hungarian-ringed Saker falcons in Libya for falconry purposes was revealed. The transmitter of one tagged bird was destroyed, and the bird was later sold for approximately €4,300.
In 2024, MME-BirdLife Hungary developed and published the Saker Falcon Conservation Plan within the framework of the EU LIFE program’s Grassland LIFE and LIFE SakerRoads projects. The plan notes that while the Carpathian Basin’s Saker Falcon population is gradually increasing, certain regions have seen declines. Currently, MME-BirdLife Hungary, in collaboration with the Bükk and Hortobágy National Park Directorates and MAVIR Zrt., is striving to halt and reverse this trend in the Northern Great Plain through the LIFE SakerRoads (LIFE21/NAT/HU/101074704) conservation program.
To conclude the „Year of the Saker Falcon,” the Hungarian Transmission System Operator Company (MAVIR Zrt.), a supporter of the conservation program, organized its 15th annual international bird conservation conference on November 21, 2024. The conference focused on the Saker Falcon, Hungary’s Bird of the Year.