An annual coastal bird survey on the Akrotiri coastline recorded a total of 392 Eleonora’s Falcons, 30 European Shags and several gulls.
The survey was conducted on September 22 and October 17 by the British Bases in collaboration with the Republic of Cyprus Game and Fauna service and BirdLife Cyprus.
From the total number of Eleonora’s Falcon recorded during both surveys, 136 were on the Akrotiri cliffs and 256 at Episkopi.
In addition, more than 30 European Shags and several gulls were observed along the cliff and shoreline.
British Bases Environment Department Conservation Warden Varnavas Michael highlighted the significance of the findings, noting that the impressive and stable results underline the ecological importance of the Akrotiri coastline, which serves as both a nesting and migratory habitat for birds.
He thanked the partners from the Game and Fauna service and Birdlife Cyprus for their continued support and extended special thanks to the Bases’ Police Marine Unit for providing a boat and personnel to ensure the safety of the survey.
Comparing the results to previous years, Senior Game and Fauna Service Officer, Nicolaos Kassinis, said: "This joint boat survey, which has been conducted for at least two decades, shows a stable trend in the nesting population of Eleonora’s Falcon, a migratory breeder.
“The European Shag, a seabird studied under the Life IP Physis ‘Pandoteira’ Project, is a permanent resident with a small nesting population distributed along rocky coasts and islets, and is currently under active study.”