Eleonora's Falcon Satellite tracking programme (1 Viewer)

[ESTEBANNIC]

For the second year running juvenile and adult eleonora's falcons have been satellite tagged again this year on Mallorca and the Columbretes islands. At the moment they are all on the move to their wintering grounds in Africa. As you can see on the maps, the theory that these falcons migrate via the red sea has gone right down the pan!!!!

http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?keyword=falcon

(click the "I accept" to gain access)

I hope you all find this as fascinating as I do....

Cheers

Steve

 

[screaming piha]

Thanks Steve. Impressive data.

 

[bitterntwisted]

As you can see on the maps, the theory that these falcons migrate via the red sea has gone right down the pan!!!!

Curiously the strategy appears to be, "get lost over the Sahara, then wander slowly south-eastish" Thanks for posting, Steve.

 

[njlarsen]

It does look like more or less direct south to tropical Africa and then more easterly towards Madagascar. However, I do assume that the reason for the Red Sea hypothesis is that birds have been seen there in the past, which begs the question: where do those birds come from? Greece, or somewhere else?

Cheers
Niels

 

[hilsbirdwing]

Fascinating - thanks for this Steve.

Since 80% - 85% of the world's breeding population breed in Greece (an estimated 12 300 pairs) it's not surprising that the Red Sea route was thought to be universal... but it's great to have this information.

Thanks,
Hils

 

[ESTEBANNIC]

Most of the Eleonoras have reached Madagascar. Amazing how different birds have all arrived within a few miles of each other and how the general migration routes after the Sahara are similiar, down throught the great lakes. Lets hope we get to see some on the way back in spring!!o

 

[Atricapilla]

Most of the Eleonoras have reached Madagascar. Amazing how different birds have all arrived within a few miles of each other and how the general migration routes after the Sahara are similiar, down throught the great lakes. Lets hope we get to see some on the way back in spring!!o

Fingers crossed you will see some come back in the spring Steve,I know I am looking forward to seeing my colony return in 2009.

 

[Farnboro John]

What we need is all the Eleonoras to be satellite tagged, then we might have a chance of catching up with one wandering to the UK!

John

 

[Gonçalo Elias]

Even the Greek birds seem to migrate mainly over land. Some have been satellite-tagged as well

 

[wolfbirder]

Can't find the report at all in the link, just Peregrine's in the States. Even typing Eleonora's in the search box produces nothing.

Was interested in this as I saw an dark-phase Eleonora's Falcon way out at sea on a Mediterranean cruise several years ago.
I presume this research suggests they do not fly out at sea on migration?

 

[Richard Prior]

I couldn’t find anything on the Eleonora’s on that site either Nick, but I doubt the research concludes that they don’t fly across the Med though. For example, if the Balearic Isles breeders headed for mainland Spain to migrate to Africa they would eventually be seen regularly at the Straits of Gibraltar watchpoints and as far as I know they aren’t. They surely fly south directly over Wolves supporters on cruise ships instead