Observing red-footed falcons

Kowa Helps Protect the stunning Red-footed falcon!

The red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) is a captivating bird species known for its stunning appearance and remarkable migration patterns. With a sleek body and striking red feet, this small falcon species is a true marvel of nature. During the breeding season, they can be found in the grasslands and agricultural areas of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. However, what truly sets the red-footed falcon apart is its incredible migratory journey.

Project red-footed falcon 2023
As autumn approaches, these agile birds embark on a remarkable migration that takes them across vast distances, spanning thousands of kilometers. They leave their breeding grounds and make an arduous journey, crossing continents and overcoming various obstacles such as deserts, mountains, and vast bodies of water. They traverse the Middle East and Africa, reaching their wintering grounds in southern and eastern Africa, where they spend the colder months in search of food. This journey showcases the red-footed falcon's incredible endurance and navigational abilities. In the spring, they undertake the awe-inspiring return journey, navigating their way back to their breeding grounds to continue the cycle of life.
Red-footed falcon
Falcons spend the night together in big communal roost sites. The team of falcoproject.eu, after 10 years of unsuccessful searching in Africa, recently went on an expedition to Angola where they discovered the world’s biggest raptor roost site.The number of birds might be up to 1 million in a single roost site, and this incredibly high concentrations can make them very vulnerable to threats. The red-footed falcon is unfortunately facing a significant threat in Angola, where it is being harvested for bush meat. The practice of hunting and capturing these falcons for consumption has emerged as a concerning issue, driven by various factors. The demand for bush meat, driven by cultural practices and economic circumstances, has resulted in the targeting of these beautiful birds. Red-footed falcons are highly valued for their meat and are often captured during their migratory journeys as they pass through Angola. This unsustainable harvesting poses a grave danger to the falcon population, as it disrupts their natural migration patterns and reduces their numbers.
Digiscoping red-footed falcons
Team for the red-footed falcon
Observing birds with the TSN-88A
The volunteers at Falcoproject.eu are working hard to to raise awareness and educating about the importance of protecting these birds in an attempt to introduce regulations against hunting, and provide alternative livelihood options for local communities to reduce reliance on bush meat. The survival of the red-footed falcon in Angola depends on collective efforts to combat the illegal harvest and ensure their long-term conservation.

Kowa sporting optics is very happy to be the official sponsor of this invaluable conservation project to help educate and protect this beautiful bird. Kowa has donated a TSN-88 PROMINAR spotting scope including equipment for digiscoping with smartphones to assist the Falcoproject.eu team.

Related Items

Kowa TSN-88A PROMINAR 25-60x angled Zoom Kit
Kowa TSN-88A PROMINAR 25-60x Zoom Kit Kowa TSN-88A PROMINAR angled spotting scope body TE-11WZ II 25-60x wide zoom eyepiece COLOUR, THE WAY NATURE INTENDED.When crafting the new TSN-88 PROMINAR series, Kowa went back to its routes in optical design. Routes which have made it one of the most popular spotting scope manufacturers in the world.To enhance a basic fundamental feature that PROMINAR users enjoy every time they look through their eyepiece - Natural Colour.Kowa has always prided itself on manufacturing optics that deliver a pure rendition of the view in front of the lens. Allowing you, the observer to explore and enjoy every detail of the subject.An image free of negative optical distractions allowing you to immerse yourself into the scene in front of you. PURE FLUORITE CRYSTAL OBJECTIVEThe new TSN-88 PROMINAR features an 88mm pure fluorite crystal objective lens - the true optical powerhouse at the heart of all PROMINAR flagship optics. This unique lens redefines the standards of colour brilliance and eliminates chromatic aberration for one of the most detailed views of the natural world. HIGHER TRANSMISSIONKowa engineers have improved the unique optical coatings applied not only to the lenses but also the prism in the new TSN-88 PROMINAR spotting scope series. The result is a spotting scope that delivers even higher levels of light wavelength transmission than its predecessor and most important of all, across the entire colour spectrum for the most natural colour of nature. TOUGH, LIGHTWEIGHT & PORTABLEThe TSN-88 PROMINAR now benefits from a 100% magnesium alloy structure, making it not only tougher but also lighter than its predecessor. A fully waterproof and nitrogen sealed shell plus an upgrade of Kowa KR coating applied to the objective lens which repels dirt, moisture and dust from building on the surface, makes the scope reassuringly rugged. DUAL FOCUS PIN POINT CONTROLThe dual focus mechanism is the gateway to controlling the image between your eye and the scope. Exquisite engineering is refined to make operation flawless. Quick focus allows for fast action to bring your subject in to detail in just a few smooth revolutions, whilst Fine focus gives pin-point, finger-tip control offering the ultimate in focussing accuracy. LOOKS AREN’T EVERYTHING, BUT…The TSN-88 PROMINAR adopts the new ergonomic curves and form created for the recent TSN-99 PROMINAR scope series. Th ere is no mistaking this spotting scope is PROMINAR. Classic green with new and improved elegant styling and a comfortable shape designed to give the user the best experience and operation out in the field. STILL THE KING OF DIGISCOPINGThe TSN-88 PROMINAR retains its crown in the world of digiscoping, offering the photo enthusiast ultra long range telephoto photography options not possible in conventional photography. The improved coatings further enhance digiscoping performance even at the highest levels of magnification producing images that were once only achievable with high end DSLR systems. Kowa has an enviable line-up of dedicated and universal smartphone adapters to allow simple connection of most smartphone models to the TSN-88 PROMINAR, take highly magnified and detailed images and videos with your smartphone of the natural world. DUAL TRIPOD MOUNTA new dual tripod mounting system prevents the scope from slipping or rotating on the tripod shoe ensuring extra stability for long periods of use. A game changer for ultimate convenience and handling out in the field. AIMING SITEThe spotting scope includes a new detachable aiming site that can be fixed on to the accessory collar to assist in locating your subject more rapidly. The lens hood also features a newly designed built in aiming site as a further visual aid.

€3,698.00
SMARTOSCOPE VARIO Universal Smartphone Adapter
SMARTOSCOPE VARIO UNIVERSAL SMARTPHONE ADAPTER SMARTOSCOPE VARIO Universal smartphone adapter with SMARTOSCOPE K30 opticsrail for quick connection to Kowa eyepeice rings and the SMARTOSCOPE UR-4 universal eyepeice ring. High qualtiy universal smartphone digiscoping adapter fits most smartphone models Includes K30 opticsrail for quick connection to Kowa eyepiece rings and the SMARTOSCOPE UR-4 universal eyepeice ring Aluminium body and components made of high grade polyoxymethylene “POM-C” Smooth opticsrail aligns your chosen smartphone camera lens perfectly with the eyepiece of the spotting scope Finely engineered locking wheel Adjustable phone clamp to fit both small and large smartphones even with a hard case fitted Anti-slip and anti-friction design Scratch free fitting Designed and manufactured in Austria Want to buy the SMARTOSCOPE VARIO outside of Germany? Drop us an email at scope@kowaoptimed.com and make sure to tell us your location and we will advise of your nearest retailer. Please note: SMARTOSCOPE is an individual brand and not part of the Kowa sporting optics range. Kowa Optimed Deutschland  is the worldwide distributor for SMARTOSCOPE products.

€196.00