Saker falcon Scythian from the nursery survived in the wild and sends signals from Mongolia

Now scientists regularly receive data from the GPS/GSM transmitter attached to the back of Scythian. With the help of such trackers, specialists monitor the movement and fate of Saker Falcons from Siberia, identify threats and look for ways to save rare birds.

The press service of the World Wildlife Fund reported that besides Scythian this summer, ornithologists from Siberia marked four more Saker Falcons with GPS transmitters. Unfortunately, three of them died. One chick was found dehydrated and died, two young birds were killed by an eagle owl, and the fourth disappeared from communication. Scientists suggest that he could die outside the coverage of the mobile network or be caught by poachers.

Since 2017, experts have recorded the death of almost 100% of Saker Falcons tagged with trackers in Siberia. Most often, birds died on power lines, fell into the clutches of other raptors or into the hands of poachers.

However, there is now a more positive trend. Some of the chicks that were born in Siberia survive and return to their native places. Scientists expect that even more ringed birds will return to the site in the coming years, occupying new territories and forming new pairs.

Currently, a project is being implemented to revive the group of the rarest Altai saker falcon, which lives only in southern Siberia. Saker falcons from the nursery from 20 to 30 days old are placed in the nests of wild saker falcons with native chicks. Foster parents feed and care for the chicks as if they were their own. So the birds easily adapt to the life of nature and replenish the population.

Since 2017, ornithologists have tagged 37 sakers as part of the project. Today, apart from Scythian, released in 2022, there are no other birds left in touch. By the end of 2021, Saker Falcons Mityunya and Charmander, tagged in 2021 and 2020, were sending signals, but they were caught in Mongolia and Kazakhstan in winter.