<< Globally
threatened species Conserving Saker Falcon
at Priority Breeding Habitats in Ukraine:
Project results, 2005-2006
Recently, global population of Saker
Falcon Falco cherrug has undergone dramatic decrease first
of all due to uncontrolled illegal capture for the falconry trade. BirdLife International,
the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN, assessed Saker falcon as Endangered
species. It is listed in CITES Appendix II. The Action Plan on Conserving the
Saker Falcon in Europe was developed by BirdLife and its first draft was adopted
on the European workshop on this species in 2005.
In Ukraine, Saker falcon is listed in Red Data Book of Ukraine.
Currently global population of the species is assessed as 7 200-8 800 birds. Ukrainian
population of this species could be estimated as the largest in Europe (280-300
pairs) according to expert assessment, although now comprehensive national overall
survey was conducted so far in Ukraine.
During 2005-2006, the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of
Birds with the support of BirdLife International European Division Office has
been implementing a project on conserving Saker Falcon in priority breeding sites
in Ukraine. Project main purpose was improving nesting conditions on the potentially
suitable sites through installing artificial nesting platforms on the power line
poles. Other project objectives were to receive data on number of Saker Falcon
in Ukraine, clarify data on breeding sites, study feeding ecology, develop recommendations
for conservation of this species, and install artificial nesting platforms.
The implemented project is quite unique for Ukraine in terms
of its practical conservation and scientific implications.
The project was implemented with the following stages:
1) Field survey with the primary aim of identifying potentially suitable sites
for the installation of artificial nesting platforms;
2) Construction and installation of artificial nesting platforms (after agreeing
upon with the Electric Power authority);
3) Monitoring of installed nesting platforms;
4) Developing recommendations on conservation of Saker Falcon;
During the first project stage, a field team consisting of 3
IBA coordinators has surveyed the suitable areas in southern Ukraine, namely Kherson,
Mykolayiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhya, and Crimea regions to identify sites suitable
for installing artificial nesting platforms. The total route of the survey in
2005 was about 5,700 km; it covered main backbone power lines in the southern
Ukraine. The field team visited all power lines by car and checked all existing
nests of Ravens with the help of binoculars and telescopes in order to reveal
Saker Falcon’s nests, broods or adults. Occasionally team studied the area for
occurrence of colonies of susliks and rooks, which present the main preys for
the Saker Falcon. All existing power line poles were investigated in the suitable
feeding habitats and, where possible, sites for the installation of artificial
platforms (boxes) were identified. Crimea was chosen as a primary area for installing
artificial nesting platforms due to high number of the population in this region
and lack of suitable nesting conditions.
Some of the 2005 survey results are the following:
- - Most part of the Ukrainian population has moved from forest-steppe to steppe
area. The highest number of breeding and observed birds was in the steppe Crimea
and southern parts of Mykolayiv, Kherson and Odesa regions;
- - Crimean Sakers nest in holes and clefts of rocky and clay cliffs or on
electric power poles in the Raven’s nests. The tptal breeding population in Crimea
is 45-50 pairs;
- - The survey allowed updating the population size in the target region and
in Ukraine as a whole. The total population size can be evaluated as 280-300 pairs.
 Interesting
results were also obtained in process of analysing the feeding ecology of Saker.
Saker specialises in mid-sized diurnal terrestrial rodents (especially ground
squirrel or suslik, Citellus) of open grassy landscapes. However, in Ukraine under
the conditions of recent sharp decrease of suslik population, Saker switches to
rooks or gulls (near Sevash lake) as preys.
There were 20 sites preliminary selected for installing nesting
platforms in Crimea (primarily on Tarkhankut peninsula and Kerch peninsula), where
up to 2-3 platforms can be installed at each site. Different types power poles’
construction were analysed for suitability for installing nesting platforms. The
most appropriate chosen options include the main backbone power lines, blunt-ended
or quadrangular poles, all of which can not be used for nesting by Ravens.
Detailed recommendations on constructing and installing artificial
nesting platforms were also prepared, as well as a list of main
threats.
During winter 2006, 40 durable platforms were constructed. Installation
was conducted in March-April 2006 in Central Crimea on the disconnected tripped
poles. General length of chosen disconnected power line is almost 150 km. Unfortunately,
no agreement was reached with the Crimean Electric Power Company to install the
nesting platforms on those power lines in operation, however USPB hopes top reach
such an agreement in the future. Another difficulty, which was faced by the team,
is the need in special skills (high rise work) and good experience in mountaineering
to mount 23 kg platforms. Despite all difficulties, 25 platforms were installed
on selected sites.
Finally, the team was able to evaluate the results of installation
through the survey of installed platforms in March-April 2006. Most platforms
(19) were occupied by Kestrels. Sakers were observed near 5 nesting platforms
(2 pairs and 3 single males). In the next year, Saker Falcon will likely nest
in 4–5 nesting boxes and possibly will gradually occupy other platforms.
Experience and data gained during project implementation was
used for developing recommendations
on conserving Saker Falcon in Ukraine.
The implemented project is quite important and unique for Ukraine
due to practical importance of the results and experience. Scientific data received
on ecology opf the species are also of high priority for further conservation
of the species in Ukraine.
Although the current project is completed, we still need to
install the remaining 15 platforms in Crimea and disseminate project experience
to other regions, first of all Odesa, where an important task is resettlement
of Saker Falcons from two electric power lines, which are planned to be dismounted
soon, to the new power lines. Mykolayv and Kherson regions also the target ones
for further installing the nesting platforms in cooperation with regional electric
power companies.
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