VAN, Türkiye
A peregrine falcon from Israel was rescued and treated in Van, eastern Türkiye after it became weak during its long migratory journey.
The peregrine falcon, fitted with a satellite transmitter by an Israeli wildlife research center to study its feeding, breeding, migration, and wintering patterns, covered a long distance to reach Van.
Using satellite tracking, Israeli authorities informed Turkish authorities when the bird remained stationary near the Iranian border in the rural Ozalp district.
The issue was reported to the Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP), which dispatched teams from its 14th Regional Directorate to Van.
Following an extended search, the teams located the falcon, which was then transported to the Yuzuncu Yil University Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
The bird received dietary supplements while under the care of Director Lokman Aslan and his team.
The center also recorded the bird’s daily weight and health data, which was promptly shared with the relevant authorities.
Aslan told Anadolu that the center coordinates with institutions in the region regarding wildlife issues and described the team’s efforts to rehabilitate and release sick, injured, and exhausted wildlife back into their natural habitat.
He said “The DKMP 14th Regional Directorate received information that a peregrine falcon, ringed in Israel, was found in the Ozalp district. After bringing it in, we discovered it has a transmitter for migration tracking, which is monitored by an Israeli tracking center.
“We informed the center in Israel about the bird’s health. They mentioned that the bird had become weakened and required care during the health check. After a period of care here, we will release it into the wild to continue its migration journey.”
He added, “It’s a migratory bird with a solar-powered transmitter used for ecological research.”
