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🔽 License the footage here:
1url.cz/01Qxq
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At the end of May, thanks to the Moravian Karst Nature Guards, I had the opportunity to document falcons that nested this year in the Býčí Skála National Nature Reserve at the Jáchymka cave 🎥
I arrived at the site with my camera just in time - one chick had already left the nest, the other siblings were diligently training their wings, and their mother was gradually trying to lure them into the world. Over the next four days, the young falcons indeed left their native rock. I spent eight wonderful hours in their company, and I bring you the most interesting moments from the filming in today's video.
The population of the peregrine falcon in our country has undergone dramatic changes in the past. In the mid-20th century, it was still a relatively common bird of prey. However, the massive use of pesticides in agriculture severely impacted top predators, and by the 1970s, the peregrine falcon was declared extinct in our region. Thanks to the ban on DDT and intensive repatriation programs, falcons have gradually returned to the wild, and since 2016, they have been nesting again in the Moravian Karst 👏
However, a new danger looms - intense tourist traffic. Josefovské Valley, which includes the Jáchymka cave, is a popular tourist destination, with large numbers of visitors passing through daily. The falcons were so trusting this year that they chose a rock ledge directly above a busy tourist trail for nesting. During their courtship in March, they could not have anticipated the crowds that would later pass below them in spring. Thus, it was necessary to temporarily close the trail and create a detour to ensure the birds had the necessary peace. Still, many people are unwilling to respect nature and feel the need to visit the cave despite the issued ban. Therefore, the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area had to deploy nature guards 👮🏻‍♀️
From April 12 to June 7, a total of 12 guards and other collaborators took turns guarding the nest. There was hardly a day without someone attempting to break the entry ban, but remarkably, everything was always resolved with a warning. No fines were issued, although some people often deserved it 🫠
We would like to thank all considerate tourists for their patience and respecting the ban. Often, nature needs only one thing from us - to suppress the urge to be everywhere, immediately. Thanks to the temporary restrictions on the tourist trail, the falcons had enough peace to successfully raise their four chicks and bring them into the world. I deeply bow to the team of nature guards who protected the area for several weeks and patiently explained to tourists why they had to bypass the Jáchymka cave during this time. I also extend my sincere thanks to Jana Dvořáková and Radovan Mezera for all their help and enabling this filming.
Long live the falcons! 🩶
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✿ Species
Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
✿ Location and date
Moravian Karst, Czechia | May 2024
✿ Equipment
Panasonic GH6
Panasonic S5II
Sigma 60-600
Sigma 150-600 C
Olympus 12-100
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Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus | Sokol stěhovavý |
Wanderfalke | Faucon pèlerin | halcón peregrino |
falco pellegrino | Сапса́н
#europeanwildlife #peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus