Abu Dhabi to build 5,000 nests for falcons in Mongolia

A spokesman for the agency said the programme involved placing 5,000 artificial nests in the wild, to provide nesting sites for up to 500 pairs of sakers by the year 2015.

Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) says it is working on an innovative nesting programme with Mongolia's Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism to increase the wild saker falcon population.

A spokesman for the agency said the programme involved placing 5,000 artificial nests in the wild, to provide nesting sites for up to 500 pairs of sakers by the year 2015.

The project is being funded by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, with staff provided by International Wildlife Consultants and its Mongolian partner, the Wildlife Science and Conservation Centre.

Since October 2009, a team of students and 16 workers in Mongolia have been building and placing nests in 20 parts of the country. By the end of October this year, all the nests will have been placed across a 25,000km area. Each nest will be 1.5km from the next.

Leading efforts

EAD secretary general Majid Al Mansouri said: "EAD is leading global efforts to save one of the world's most endangered falcons whose population has dwindled globally to a mere 2,000 to 5,000 pairs."

"This innovative project with Mongolia's MNET will result in a significant rise in the species' population," Al Mansouri said.

"Together with commitment from the Mongolian government, we are achieving our common vision of preserving this endangered species and important symbol of Emirati heritage." Locally known as ‘hurr', meaning ‘free', this species of falcon is the second largest in the world and one of the toughest. They are considered the best suited variety to Arab falconry due to their resilience and adaptability to desert climates.

Their willingness to engage in ground combat with their prey makes them a fierce and reliable hunter.

As part of the project, several artificial nests have been fitted with a camera which researchers hope will reveal how many Brandt's voles and Mongolia gerbils are eaten by saker falcons and their young.

The information could be given to herdsmen for them to see for themselves how a greater number of birds of prey could help improve the degraded Mongolian Steppe.

Scientists say molecular evidence indicates that the saker falcon is very closely related to the gyr falcon.