Understanding on the factors affecting Eleonora’s falcon’ (Falco eleonorae) forage in Akrotiri peninsula in Cyprus

Understanding on the factors affecting Eleonora’s falcon’ (Falco eleonorae) forage in Akrotiri peninsula in Cyprus

Project Title: Understanding on the factors affecting Eleonora’s falcon’ (Falco eleonorae) forage in Akrotiri peninsula in Cyprus. 

Aim: This project aims to study the effects of anthropogenic and climatic pressures on insect prey of Eleonora’s falcon, at feeding hotspots in SBAs and adjacent areas in Cyprus.

Goals:

• Study the insect prey population essential for the diet of Eleonora’s falcon. Surveys will be undertaken at Eleonora’s falcon feeding hotspots identified during previous studies by Dr Hadjikyriakou using bird transmitters.
• Structured entomological field survey to assess insect abundance by using malaise traps and line transect, in combination with new technologies such as citizen science platforms to identify the insect species that are important prey for the falcon.
• For each feeding hotspot (including designating SPA’s and farmed landscapes), understand how anthropogenic pressures affect the insect communities and consequently Eleonora’s falcon.
• Raise public awareness regarding Eleonora’s falcon and the importance of insect conservation.

Duration: October 2022- September 2024

Location: Cyprus, Western Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri

Funded by: Darwin Plus

Direct partners: Joint Services Health Unit Cyprus (JSHU); Akrotiri Environmental Education Centre (AEEC), UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK-CEH), Wallingford