Saker Falcon

The saker falcon is a big, strong bird of prey with large feet and pointed wings. It is larger than the peregrine falcon, and has a very wide wingspan for its size. The saker falcon has a large range of color, from dark brown to grey, to almost white. Saker falcons are also thought to breed with gyrfalcons and form a hybrid falcon. The saker falcon originated in southeast Europe and Asia. Their preferred habitats are the open plains and forest steppes. They can be found on the steppes of Mongolia and of southern Siberia, and the Russian Altai mountains.

The saker falcon is about 18 inches tall. They have large eyes and a short, hooked beak. Steppe saker falcons use the nests of Black Kites (Milvus migrans) and Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca). The mountain saker builds its nest on cliffs. Saker falcons lay 2 to 5 eggs. In the winter they migrate south to Kazakhstan and the Middle East.

They spend most of their time hunting for mammals like voles, rats, stoats, weasels, northern pikas, Siberian chipmunks, and birds. They dive for their prey at 160 mph. The saker falcon are ferocious hunters and often attacks prey that is bigger than itself. Female saker falcons are more ferocious than the males and are preferred by falconers. In the wild they have no natural enemies, except man.

The larger, dark brown and gray barred Altai Saker falcons are the favorite bird of Arab falconers. Many of the birds are trapped in Arab countries when they are on their migration to the Middle East. In the past it was the custom to capture juvenile female sakers and train them to hunt because they were easier to train than adult birds.

Because the birds have become scarce, both adult and juvenile birds are now being caught throughout Asia and sold to the Middle Eastern falcon market. Without breeding adults in the wild, the saker falcon's population is in danger of declining.

There are no accurate figures for the population of Saker falcons, but it is believed that there are only 1,000 pairs of birds left in Russia, and 130 pairs in the rest of Europe. Some scientists think the decline of the steppe Saker is caused by the regional extinction of their preferred prey, the Red-cheeked Sousliks (Citellus erythrogenys), which is a type of ground squirrel. Global temperature changes has brought about changes in the vegetation on which the sousliks survived. Because the climate changed, the plants which Sousliks ate died, which caused the Sousliks to die off in that region, which is causing the Steppe Saker falcon population to decline. There are only about 200 pairs of Steppe Saker falcons left and they may become extinct in the next 10 to 15 years

The Peregrine Falcon is endangered throughout Canada. Populations in southern Canada have been established with captive-bred young but they remain small. Twenty years ago there were no breeding pairs in southern Alberta. Now there are 30 pairs across the province.

Peregrine Falcons are slim birds with a small head and long, thin, pointed wings. They are similar in size to crows.

Peregrines can reach speeds close to 220 mph in a downward dive. They use their speed and agility to catch birds in mid-air. Their prey range in size from sparrows to large waterfowl such as ducks.

In Alberta, they nest on ledges on steep cliff faces or high office towers. A male will fly complex courtship flights for his mate. In mid-May females usually lay four eggs. Both adults help incubate the eggs which hatch in mid-June. The young birds begin to fly 35-45 days later. Due to their inexperience flying and hunting, over 60 per cent will die before the next spring.

Agricultural and industrial use of pesticides has caused a worldwide decline of peregrine falcons. Pesticide use is closely regulated in Canada and the U.S. but not in Latin America where peregrines winter.Pesticide residues remain in the environment for many years. They're picked up by a variety of animals, then passed on up the food chain to birds of prey. The residues collect in the birds' fat and eventually interfere with reproduction, causing thin eggshells and dead embryos.

The population recovery in Alberta is slow in spite of intensive management programs and reduced pollutant residues in falcons and their prey. Each year since 1992, wildlife agencies in Alberta have released 45 captive-bred falcons. They use a technique called hacking, where 30-day-old birds are placed in hack boxes on cliffs or tall buildings. The box protects the young birds from the weather and predators. An attendant provides food through a tube until the birds instinctively master flying and hunting several weeks later.

The Canadian Wildlife Service also has a breeding facility near Wainwright. The eggs or young from these captive birds are fostered with wild falcons to supplement natural reproduction.Programs like these should maintain the current breeding population and may increase it to a self-sustaining level in the future.It is illegal to kill or disturb peregrine falcons or their nesting areas in Canada and the U.S

Slim birds with a small head and long, thin, pointed wings. Similar in size to crows. Peregrines can reach speeds close to 320 km-h in a downward dive. They use their speed and agility to catch birds in mid-air. Their prey range in size from sparrows to large waterfowl such as ducks.

In Alberta, they nest on ledges on steep cliff faces or high office towers. A male will fly complex courtship flights for his mate. In mid-May females usually lay four eggs. Both adults help incubate the eggs which hatch in mid-June. The young birds begin to fly 35-45 days later. Due to their inexperience flying and hunting, over 60 per cent will die before the next spring.

Up to 13 years. A falcon named Arrow nested and bred in Edmonton's AGT Tower for 11 years. Agricultural and industrial use of pesticides has caused a worldwide decline of peregrine falcons. Pesticide use is closely regulated in Canada and the U.S. but not in Latin America where peregrines winter.

Pesticide residues remain in the environment for many years. They're picked up by a variety of animals, then passed on up the food chain to birds of prey. The residues collect in the birds' fat and eventually interfere with reproduction, causing thin eggshells and dead embryos. Population recovery in Alberta is slow in spite of intensive management programs and reduced pollutant residues in falcons and their prey.

Each year since 1992, wildlife agencies in Alberta have released 45 captive-bred falcons. They use a technique called hacking, where 30-day-old birds are placed in hack boxes on cliffs or tall buildings. The box protects the young birds from the weather and predators. An attendant provides food through a tube until the birds instinctively master flying and hunting several weeks later.

The Canadian Wildlife Service also has a breeding facility near Wainwright. The eggs or young from these captive birds are fostered with wild falcons to supplement natural reproduction. Programs like these should maintain the current breeding population and may increase it to a self-sustaining level in the future. It is illegal to kill or disturb peregrine falcons or their nesting areas in Canada and the U.S.