Ornithologists from the ALKA Wildlife Association have ringed a peregrine falcon chick growing on the heating plant’s chimney on the site of the ORLEN Unipetrol chemical plant in Litvínov. A pair of critically endangered peregrine falcons nesting on the site for several years brought two chicks into the world at the end of April. Unfortunately, however, one of them became a victim of an attack by another female falcon, born in Mladá Boleslav a year ago.
Conservationists in the Czech Republic register about 130 to 140 nesting couples of peregrine falcons. The number of these birds has recently increased thanks to strict protection measures. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is also doing its bit because the falcons have the necessary peace and enough food to raise their young on its sites.
“We are delighted to support the life of such special creatures as peregrine falcons in our production site,” says
Katarzyna Woś, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group. She adds:
“Shared joy is a double joy, which is why the general public has an opportunity to watch the falcons’ family life online at starameseosokoly.cz. The site also offers updated information and events with interesting facts about the world of peregrine falcons.”
ORLEN Unipetrol has cooperated with ALKA Wildlife on the peregrine falcon project since 2011. Falcon families have raised more than 40 noble birds of prey since then. However, this year has not been so positive for Chempark’s birds. “We had two peregrine pairs in Litvínov last year. They brought into the world an incredible number of five small chicks. Unfortunately, this situation is not that good this year. We can watch the fate of the falcon family only on the heating plant’s chimney. The other traditional nesting box on the steam cracker’s chimney did not see any feathered inhabitants this time,” ornithologist Václav Beran from ALKA Wildlife comments on this year’s peregrine nesting. “Two chicks were born from three eggs at the end of April. However, one of them fell a sacrifice to an attack of another female peregrine. We have found out from the identity rings that she was born in Mladá Boleslav a year ago. We have never seen an attack against peregrine chicks by another female. The chick has now received two rings, so we could follow its fate and wish it good luck in the challenging life of the peregrines.”
Ringing is vital for ornithologists’ research because it enables them to gain valuable insights that are subsequently applied to protect this rare bird of prey. For instance, ringing helped find out that a female is growing at the 100-metre height on the heating plant’s chimney. “Every cloud has a silver lining; the chick does not need to fight for the parents’ attention and food with other chicks and does well as it is well-nourished and healthy,” Václav Beran concludes.
Peregrine falcons regularly return to the chimneys in the ORLEN Unipetrol plant in Záluží near Litvínov for 12 years to raise a new generation. The nesting box with a camera is placed at the 100-metre height on the chimney of the T700 heating plant of the largest chemical complex in the Check Republic. The chicks hatch from eggs about 30 days after being laid. Then, they have enough strength and knowledge to leave the nest in June. Their hearty diet includes pigeons, gulls, diverse small birds, and bats. Peregrine falcons can live up to 20 years. They return to their popular nesting sites, which is also true for the couples from ORLEN Unipetrol’s sites in Záluží near Litvínov, Neratovice, and Kralupy nad Vltavou.
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The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. It belongs among the critical players in the Czech and Central European markets in all these areas. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo, with its Mogul brand in Pardubice and Kolín, Spolana Neratovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. Unipetrol also includes a network of Benzina ORLEN filling stations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With 426 filling stations, Benzina ORLEN is the largest chain in the Czech Republic. ORLEN Unipetrol employs more than 5,000 people and is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became a member of the ORLEN Group, the largest crude oil processor in Central Europe. The ORLEN Unipetrol is also active in corporate social responsibility. Therefore, it pays equal attention to initiatives focusing on cultivating and supporting sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment.