Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)
The saker falcon is a large falcon that occurs from Eastern Europe to western China. It is adapted to hunting close to the ground in open terrain, combining rapid acceleration with high manoeuvrability. It feeds mainly on mid-sized diurnal terrestrial rodents of open grassy landscapes such as steppes and arid mountain areas, especially European souslik Spermophillus citellus. In Bulgaria, a gradual shift of nesting sites from steppe and lowland regions towards higher mountain areas has been recorded since the 1970s (Baumgart, 1977).
In Bulgaria, as in the rest of Europe, the saker falcon has suffered mainly from the loss and degradation of steppes and dry grasslands through agricultural intensification, plantation establishment and decreases in sheep pastoralism, which in turn has caused a decline in key prey species. Off- take for falconry is also a problem. The species declined significantly during the 20th century, and especially after 1945. In 2002 there were 360-540 pairs on the continent, a significant proportion of which (130-150) were in Hungary (BirdLife International, 2004). Since 2000, the species’ world and European breeding populations have declined substantially, and its range has contracted and become fragmented. In 2007, as a result, it was listed as Endangered by IUCN. In Bulgaria, a large decline has been observed over several decades, but especially since 1985; the population at this date was about 40 pairs, but only 10-15 pairs remained in 2000 and only 5-6 in 2007 (Ruskov et al., in press). As with the imperial eagle – and for the same reason – the only place in Europe where a significant increase has occurred recently is the Hungarian and Slovakian part of the Carpathian basin. Again, a key aim of the present project will be to replicate the success of the LIFE projects responsible for this increase.
The area that will be covered by this project (especially the Central Balkan, Sredna Gora, Vrachanski Balkan, Ponor, Sinite Kamani-Grebenets and Besaparski Hills SPAs) holds all known nesting sites of the Bulgarian population of the saker falcon. Please note that the project sites have been chosen on the basis of the latest (2007) breeding records rather than the information included in the book Important Bird Areas in Bulgaria (Kostadinova and Gramatikov, 2007) or SPA site accounts, which reflect the situation during 1990-2005.
Saker falcons remain on their breeding territories between February and September/October, and in some lowland areas single individuals stay throughout winter. The proposed project will therefore make the maximal possible contribution to the preservation of the saker falcon in Bulgaria. Indeed, we believe that it represents the only chance to save this species from national extinction.
The saker falcon is listed in the Bulgarian Act on Biological Diversity as a threatened species that is a priority for conservation (Annex 2) and as a species that is protected throughout the country (Annex 3). In spite of this, its conservation status needs special attention and active remedial measures, due to significant habitat changes, nest robbing and a complete lack of enforcement of the relevant laws.