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Résumé :
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One of the fundamental concerns in raptors' conservation is the monitoring of their populations (ANDERSEN 2007). A long-term monitoring of raptor populations can help to identify early threats either concerning the birds or their habitats, and thereby is a useful tool for establishing adequate conservation measures (WITMER 2005). In most ornithological advanced countries, monitoring programmes have started during the last few decades.On the other hand, although many scientists and ornithologists have appeared in Greece during the last two decades, there is no comprehensive scheme for monitoring the populations of birds of prey as yet. Greece, due to its position among three continents and due to its variable climate, which in turn affects the vegetation and habitats, supports diverse raptor communities. From a total of 442 birds that occurred in the country, 38 (8.6%) species are diurnal raptors of which 24 (63.2%) breed here (HANDRINOS 2009). In addition, eight out of nine owls breed in the country. Both in the mainland and on the islands, 4 vultures, 6 eagles, 3 buzzards, 3 hawks, 1 kite, 1 harrier and 6 falcons breed as well. However, except for the Black Vulture Aegypius monachus in Dadia forest in northeastern Greece and for the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus and the Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus in Crete, there is no other long-term national monitoring programme in progress in the country.The aim of this study was to present briefly an overview of monitoring for raptors in Greece.
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