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Artificial nest project
Arabian falconry creates a significant demand for falcons that is met through captive-breeding and wild-take. In relation to wild-take, the
convention on International trade in endangered species (CITES) currently only allows the international trade of one important falconry
species, the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), and this trade is effectively limited to one source country, Mongolia.
Market demand for wild-sourced Saker Falcons is greater than can be supplied by Mongolia alone; consequently there is also an illegal,
unregulated trade in this species along with the Gyrfalcon (Falcon rusticolus) and Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus). The vast majority of these
falcons are sourced from Asian countries. The artificial nest project in Mongolia uses artificial nests to create a demonstrably sustainable
harvest of Saker Falcons for the Arabian falcon trade.
Rational of the project
The Saker Falcon is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Signatory Parties can harvest and trade these wild birds as long as it has no detrimental
impact on the wild population. Mongolia has traded in this natural resource since 1992 and currently has a quota to sell 300 birds per annum.
The artificial nest project was established to increase the wild population of Saker Falcons in Mongolia by creating a new breeding population
that can be easily monitored. Currently, the Mongolian government mainly sells its falcon quota to Arab countries to be used for falconry, an
important part of their cultural heritage. In the future, the Mongolian Government can set their trade quota based on the productivity of the
artificial nests, taking into account the age and sex of the harvested falcons.
The artificial nests provide nesting sites where none existed previously. 5000 artificial nests have been erected in 20 different districts where
food resources are high and potential nesting sites are limited. Pilot Study
In 2005, 100 nests were positioned 2 km apart in a grid. Four different nest designs were randomly distributed across this grid in order to
identify the nest design preference of Saker Falcons. These 100 nests were situated in Darhan, where the rodent density is low.
In 2006, 150 nests were positioned 1km apart in a grid in Bayan, where the rodent density is high.
Initial nest designs
Biologists studied the nest occupancy for 4 years. They found;
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Sakers preferred the closed box design, boxes with tops on.
Sakers laid an average of 4.4 eggs
Hatched an average of 3.7 eggs
Fledged an average of 3 chicks.
Saker Falcon occupancy increased year on year with an upper limit being determined by local food availability.
Research results suggest that approximately 10% of the 5000 artificial nests will be occupied by Saker Falcons by 2015.
In areas with low rodent density, Saker Falcons lay later, produced fewer eggs and fledged fewer young than those breeding in areas
with a high rodent density.
The favoured preys of Saker Falcons in central Mongolia are small rodents, especially Mongolian Gerbils and Brandt's Voles.
5000 Nests
The 5000 nests were erected in 2010, in areas of central Mongolia where few natural nest sites exist. The exact locations were agreed with
district leaders to suit local herdsmen, who see raptor predation of rodents as beneficial for their grazing land.
250 artificial nests have been erected within the boundaries of 20 different districts, with nests spaced at 1.5 km intervals.
Biological Control
Rodents are an agricultural pest. Predation by raptors breeding at the artificial nests, could potentially act as a biological control for these pest
species. Kestrels, Ravens & Buzzards also breed in the artificial nests and feed on the abundant rodents that degrade grasslands.
Recording Saker Falcon Productivity, Survival and Harvesting
Over the five-year period 2011-15 biologists will monitor the 5,250 artificial nests that have been erected (i.e., including the 250 artificial nests
in the pre-existing experimental areas) to determine occupancy levels. All the artificial nests will be initially visited in May (when most Saker
Falcon nests should contain eggs or chicks), with at least two further visits made to the occupied nest sites to implant microchips in the chicks
(at age 21-35 days old) and to determine fledging success.
Samples of plucked feathers from the chicks will be taken during microchipping and molted adult feathers from around the nest sites during
monitoring visits. These feather samples will be used as a source of DNA to individually identify and sex each bird, and to undertake genetic
population analyses. Through the genetic identification of individuals we can determine the turnover rate of breeding adults, the extent of
breeding dispersal across the network of artificial nests, and recruitment to the breeding population. Since 2007 we have been able to identify
individuals breeding at the Bayan artificial nest experimental area using both genetic and visual markers.
Productivity and survival data from Sakers breeding at our artificial nests can be used to model a sustainable harvest quota. The aim of the
project is to set a harvest quota that is determined solely from the Saker population breeding at the artificial nests. The quota derived from
the model will compensate for the annual harvest; however, it should be noted that not all of the birds that are harvested will have been
produced at the artificial nests. Sakers are mostly trapped from July to December, after breeding dispersal, thus the birds that are harvested
will include a proportion that has not been produced at the artificial nest sites. We can determine the proportion by scanning all Sakers for the
presence of microchips prior to export (at this point all birds destined for export will be implanted with microchips and the number recorded
on the CITES export permit).
Acknowledgments
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi funds Saker Falcon research in Mongolia. This has enabled the training of undergraduate and post
graduate biologists in Mongolia. The construction and erection of 5000 artificial nests created employment for local people and has increased
awareness of Saker Falcon conservation in Mongolia.
In 2010 an agreement was signed between the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, Environment & Tourism, and the Environment Agency Abu
Dhabi to support this project to the end of 2015