Prague, July 2 (CTK) – A total of five young of the rare and endangered peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) have hatched on two chimneys in Prague this year, representatives from the Czech Society for Ornithology (CSO) told CTK on Wednesday.
They said this has been for the first time that two falcon couples have successfully bred their young at the same time. All young birds have already left the nesting boxes that ornithologists prepared for them and are flying around the chimneys.
One of the two couples has four young like last year, Dusan Rak, from the CSO, said.
All have already been fitted with coloured monitoring rings.
In cooperation with the owners of high-rise buildings, the ornithologists have installed in Prague six nesting boxes at places sought by falcons.
This year’s successful couples have chosen localities in industrial complexes, but close to nature, Rak said.
Pictures taken by camera traps have shown that the Prague falcons feed most often on pigeons, but also smaller species of birds are an important part of their food, Rak said.
Peregrine falcons became almost extinct in Europe several decades ago. Now, they are gradually returning to their historical nesting places, which are mainly high rock walls.
Some birds move from nature to towns and technical structures in the landscape where they have enough food, but they cannot do without people’s help who provide them with safe nesting places.
A mere 60 couples of the birds of prey are currently nesting on Czech territory.
