Saker Falcon in the Altai-Sayan Region: Results of Monitoring in 2016–2018

• Published in: Пернатые хищники и их охрана
• Main Authors: Igor V. Karyakin, Elvira G. Nikolenko, Elena P. Shnayder
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: LLC Sibecocenter 2018-12-01
• Subjects: хищные птицы; пернатые хищники; балобан; falco cherrug; распространение; численность; гнездовая биология
• Online Access: http://rusraptors.ru/index.php/RC/article/view/233
• ISSN: 1814-0076; 1814-8654

This article represents the results of Saker Falcon’s (Falco cherrug) population monitoring in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion (ASER), as well as results of satellite research of the species including population genetical research. The study area includes Krasnoyarsk Kray, Khakasia, Tuva and Altai Republics, and mountainous part of Altai Kray of Russia. In 2016–2108, 129 breeding territories of Saker were checked (that makes 35.44% from all known breeding territories of the species in the region). Ninety out of 129 territories were occupied by Sakers and 47 territories represented sights of successful breeding. Estimation of population size in ASER in 2018 was 1103–1216 (mean 1163) breeding pairs, but 592–650 (mean 623) pairs that succeed in breeding. Through the last 20 years, the population declined by 43.43%. The woodland population inhabited plain part of Alyai Kray become completely extinct despite the diminished load of poaching in this region. We revealed a rapid loss of falcons belong to a so known “Altai” form of Saker (altaicus) and of nominative subspecies (F. ch. cherrug). The main reason that leads ASER population of Sakers to decline is a selective capturing of females for the purpose of falconry that is traditional in the countries of the Middle East. Our longstanding observations showed that a male could be found in his breeding area for about 10 years average, but females in pairs change regularly and occupy the breeding territory no more than 2 years before vanishing. Poachers aimed to capture females of “cherrug” and “altaicus” phenotypes or the most similar ones, thus other phenotypes like “progressus” and “milvipes” with intense spotting on the back are less exposed to poaching.