Bon Bons on Track in Northern Cyprus – A tribute to two Martins

Guest blog by Robin Snape

In their 1992 book The Birds of Cyprus Flint and Stewart wrote that in the Five Finger Mountains, the Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) was then almost certainly extinct. But, in the late noughties, physiotherapist Barış Saydam went in pursuit of this illusive species, which he lovingly referred to as BonBon. And, just then, the Society for Protection of Birds and Nature KUŞKOR secured a grant from the European Union’s Aid Package for the Turkish Cypriot community to map Important Bird Areas (IBAs). Young local biologist Damla Beton was employed with me to shake the dust out of the dormant KUŞKOR office. With BirdLife Cyprus’ Martin Hellicar and KUŞKOR’s Martin Marancos and Wayne Fuller, we established a large volunteer support team and began two years of systematic bird monitoring.

Back then, Turkish Cypriot bird enthusiasts were few and far between. But, when Barış exhibited his work at a 2010 KUŞKOR event at Bellapais Abbey, heads were turned and more photographers (including Hüseyin Yorgancı and Birtan Gökeri), began to pool their knowledge. It soon became clear that more eagles were nesting than was realised and by 2012, the first targeted surveys had established at least 10 nests. This enabled our IBA project to confirm the status of the Five Finger Mountains as an IBA for the species.

Further nests were found and the recently published Birds of Cyprus 3rd Edition (by Flint and Richardson), paints a better picture for the species, suggesting that it may have recovered from persecution. But the Five Finger Mountains, while recognised as a potential Natura 2000 site, have never been formally integrated into the Northern Cyprus network of Specially Protected Areas. Poorly regulated quarrying, development and propagation of invasive species continue in these unique mountain habitats. So, in line with the global 30 by 30 goal to bring 30% of the planet under some form of conservation, the EU Green Deal and other targets, KUŞKOR are keen to see the important biodiversity of this range protected. And while Bonelli’s Eagle numbers are said to be improved, there is no real baseline. Eagles are still found shot, electrocuted and poisoned. These broad threats to raptors across the island, in particular poisoning of dogs and foxes, are holding back the assisted recovery of the griffon vulture. Realising the need to prioritise raptor conservation resources, we were keen to understand their threats and habitat needs in detail, so our Board resolved to establish a Bonelli’s Eagle GPS tracking study “BonBonTrack”.

In 2022 and 2023, UK raptor specialist David Anderson and Scottish SPCA’s Mark Rafferty provided training on site. This duo has had great success in using GPS tracking to identify threats to raptors in Scotland, gathering evidence to help secure prosecutions of persecutors. They provided our Chair and BTO-licenced ringer Damla Beton with training in the specialist device attachment technique and local climber Emre Kolaç was trained to safely access the young eagles. By 2024 six chicks had been fitted with devices and our understanding of the species skyrocketed.

One eagle failed to fledge, one was electrocuted on a power installation within the first six months of fledging and one device failed after 9 months of tracking. Tracking of the three remaining eagles continues, with one now in its second summer. Post-fledging eagles used a restricted area around the nest site during the first 3-4 months of fledging allowing an understanding of the eagle’s needs within their mountain territories. After this they made broad movements, collectively using all extremities of the island, often visiting artificial dams and demonstrating connectivity with the nesting population in the Troodos range south of the Green Line. The published results will be useful in updating management plans for the Five Finger Mountains SPA and securing official designation and zoning of this conservation area and will support mitigation of electrical installations and other threats identified through ongoing tracking.

To celebrate and raise awareness of these successes, videographer and eagle surveyor Olkan Ergüler created a short documentary about the project and in August this was screened to 150 people in Nicosia including political leaders, NGOs and public. Broad attendance and coverage of the event contributed to a growing interest in raptor conservation among the Cyprus community. With support of OSME and Cyprus Environment Foundation the BonBonTrack project is really helping to put Bon Bons and other large raptors on track to recovery.

The rich and fruitful lives of Martin Marancos and Martin Hellicar should be celebrated here as their joint efforts to invigorate bird conservation in Northern Cyprus, contributed significantly to the success of our work. Martin Hellicar, the great mentor of many young conservationists he left behind, wrote an obituary to Martin Marancos in October 2023, describing their friendship and joint work. There was a feeling of numbness and disbelief, when, this summer Martin Hellicar was also laid to rest. How nice it would have been to celebrate with them both at the BonBonTrack film screening. But, while the loss of two Martins has left the conservation community across the island stunned, we are united and resolved to build on their legacy, founded on collaboration.

Since 2003, Robin Snape has been capacity building conservation projects in Northern Cyprus. He delivers evidence-based conservation outcomes through two NGOs (SPOT and KUŞKOR), globally as a consultant and as an Associate Researcher at University of Exeter’ Centre for Ecology and Conservation.