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On Nature in the Czech Republic

Nature Conservation 1/2013 12. 5. 2013 On Nature in the Czech Republic Print article in pdf

Birds of Prey in the Czech Republic: Current State and Future Outlook

současný stav a výhledy

authors: Vojtěch Mrlík, Tomáš Bělka, Miroslav Dusík, Jan Hanel, Lubomír Peške, František Pojer, Karel Poprach, Libor Schröpfer, Václav Tomášek

Birds of Prey in the Czech Republic: Current State and Future Outlook

In comparison with the 1970s and 1980s, numbers have been increased in some birds of prey, while populations of other species have been relatively stable in the Czech Republic. Some avian predators, e.g. the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), known also as the Northern Harrier in North America have been declining there.

The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) disappeared as a breeder from the country. On the other hand, the southernmost part of Moravia have been recently colonised by a few breeding pars of the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). Increasing in the some raptor numbers, e.g.the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) or Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is closely related to the same process in other parts of Europe. Some birds of prey have been clearly benefiting from legal protection and reduced contamination by chemicals. The main drivers affecting the birds of prey populations in the Czech Republic include natural and semi-natural habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss, increase in agriculture and forest management intensity and disturbance by humans even in previously less used regions. Conservation measures in the field have significantly contributed to improving conservation status in some raptors, e.g.the Montagus Harrier (Circus pygargus). Increasing in some birds of prey numbers, particularly in common ones would raise a wrong idea that they are higher than it should be. Current conservation status in raptors is reflected by the Red Lists of Threatened Species in the Czech Republic as well as by updating the Specially Protected Species List. Moreover, although conservation status in raptors as a whole has been improved since the 1980s, because of their ecological, economic and cultural reasons, special attention should be paid to this keystone wild animal guild by the State Nature Conser­vancy, non-profit organisations, scientists and other stakeholders also in the future.