Falcons in the Monastery of St. Francis
Portugal (2008)
back to film archiveTrailer (7:05 min):
List of species:
Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni, D: Rötelfalke, P: Peneireiro-das-torres
Jackdaw, Corvus monedula, D: Dohle, P: Gralha-de-nuca-cinzenta
Peacock, Pavo cristatus, D: Pfau, P: Pavão
Paper-white Narcissus, Narcissus papyraceus, D: Narzisse
Swallowtail, Papilio machaon, D: Schwalbenschwanz, P: Cauda-de-andorinha
Almond, Prunus dulcis, D: Mandelbaum, P: Amendoeira
Chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla, D: Kamille
Umbrella milkwort, Tolpis barbata, D: Tolpis, P: Leituga, Olho-de-mocho
Fodder Vetch, Vicia villosa ssp.varia, D: Bunte Wicke
Spanish Nut, Gynandriris sisyrinchium, D: Mittags-Schwertlilie, P: Maios-pequenos
Purple Vipers, Bugloss Echium plantagineum, D: Viol. Natternkopf, P: Soagem-viperina
Holm/evergreen, Oak Quercus ilex, D: Steineiche, P: Azinheira
Cork Oak, Quercus suber, D: Korkeiche, P: Sobreiro
Red-legged, Partridge Alectoris rufa, D: Rothuhn, P: Perdiz-comum
House Martin, Delichon urbica, D: Mehlschwalbe, P: Andorinha-dos-beirais
Swallow, Hirundo rustica, D: Rauchschwalbe, P: Andorinha-das-chaminés
White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, D: Weißstorch, P: Cegonha-branca
Hoopoe, Upupa epops, D: Wiedehopf, P: Poupa
Banded Centipede, Scolopendrid Scolopendra cingulata, D: Riesenläufer, P: Escolopendra
Mediterranean pond turtle, Mauremys leprosa, D: Wasserschildkröte iberische, P: Cágado
Iberian water frog, Rana perezi, D: Wasserfrosch iberischer, P: Rã-verde
Olive Tree, Olea europaea, Ölbaum, D: Olivenbaum, P: Oliveira
Little Owl, Athene noctua, D: Steinkauz, P: Mocho-galego
Barn Owl, Tyto alba, D: Schleiereule, P: Coruja-das-torres
Great Bustard, Otis tarda, D: Großtrappe, P: Abetarda
Corn Bunting, Emberiza calandra, D: Grauammer, P: Trigueirão
Small-headed Barbel, Barbus microcephalus, D: Kleine Barbel, P: Barbo-de-cabeça-pequena
Sclater´s Barbel Barbus scalateri, D: Große Barbel, P: Barbo branco
Iberian Barbel, Barbus comiza, D: Iberische Barbe, P: Cumba, Barbo-do-Guadiana
Iberian Nase, Chondrostoma willkommii, D: Guadiana-Näsling, P: Boga-do-Guadiana
Chub Leuciscus cephalus, D: Döbel, P: Escalo
Centaury, Centaurium erythrea, D: Tausendgüldenkraut, P: Centáurea-menor, Fel-da-terra
Illyrian cotton thistle, Onopordum illyricum, D: Illyrische Eselsdistel
Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyanus, D: Blauelster, P: Pega-azul
About the film:
Alentejo is the most sparsely populated region in Portugal. Here there are lonely landscapes, steppes with oak, olive and almond trees as well as sheep pastures. The Monastery of St. Francis, the Convento Sao Francisco, is in the middle of this dreamingly beautiful landscape (next to the picturesque small city of Mértola).
In 1834, the Franciscans gave up the monastery and it fell into ruin. Over 20 years ago, the Dutch artist family Zwanikken adopted this monastery with its large area, and tediously created a “Garden of Eden”, a resting place for many animals- especially the Lesser Kestrel.
The “Peneireiro-das-torres“ is one of the most endangered falcon species, and in Portugal its existence has greatly decreased since the mid-20th century. Today, this species can only be found in Alentejo. The population size of these falcons was successfully increased to 30 pairs by means of many man-made brooding areas. This is how the large area around the monastery became a small “Noah’s Ark”.
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