Falco cherrug -- Gray, 1834ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- FALCONIFORMES -- FALCONIDAECommon names: Saker Falcon; Faucon sacre; Saker

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

VU -- Vulnerable, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU)EU27 regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU)

This species has a small population in both Europe and the EU27, which is now increasing owing to intensive wardening and management, after historical declines. The population size within the region meets the threshold for classification as Vulnerable under the small population criterion, with an increasing population trend. Since the species is estimated to be undergoing rapid declines across much of the remainder of its large global range, there is not considered to be significant potential for rescue from outside the region and the final category is unchanged. The species is therefore classified as Vulnerable (D1) in both Europe and the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Poland; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Turkey; UkraineVagrant:Albania; Denmark; Finland; France; Spain; Sweden

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 350-500 pairs, which equates to 710-990 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 270-350 pairs, which equates to 550-700 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyIt is physically adapted to hunting close to the ground in open terrain, combining rapid acceleration with high manoeuvrability, thus specialising on mid-sized diurnal terrestrial rodents of open grassy landscapes such as steppes and arid montane areas; in some areas, particularly near water, it switches to birds as key prey, and has recently substituted domestic pigeons (Columba livia) for rodents in parts of Europe. It uses copses or cliffs for nest sites (sometimes even the ground), occupying the old nests of other birds. Clutch size varies from two to six, with means from 3.2-3.9 in different circumstances. Breeding success varies with year (especially in areas where rodents cycle) (Baumgart 1991, Snow and Perrins 1998). The species usually occurs singly or in pairs (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Birds are sedentary, part-migratory or fully migratory, largely depending on the extent to which the food supply in breeding areas disappears in winter (Baumgart 1991, Snow and Perrins 1998). Migrating central European adults travel as far as the Mediterranean. Juveniles are mainly migratory with central and eastern European birds wandering from the Balkans to Turkmenistan, Egypt and north-west India (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Migrating birds generally

leave their breeding grounds in September and October, returning between February and May (del Hoyo et al. 1994).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceGrassland - Temperate suitable breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable non-breedingMarine Intertidal - Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable non-breedingRocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) major non-breedingAltitude 0-2000 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsIn Europe, this species has suffered mainly from the loss and degradation of steppes and dry grasslands through agricultural intensification, plantation establishment and declines in sheep pastoralism, causing a decline in key prey species; offtake for falconry is a serious problem, which has caused local extinctions (Baumgart 1991, 1994, K. Ruskov in litt. 2007). In eastern Hungary, landscape reversion following the abandonment of agriculture could have a negative influence, as most prey species require short swards that are maintained by agricultural practices (S. Nagy in litt. 2007). Elsewhere, declines are mainly attributable to offtake for falconry, although persecution, pesticide use and agrochemical deployment play a lesser part (Baumgart 1991, Riddle and Remple 1994, Barton 2000, Eastham et al. 2000, Fox 2002, Haines 2002, ERWDA 2003). Hybridisation with escaped or released hybrid falcons could influence the genetic integrity of wild populations (S. Nagy in litt. 2007, Nittinger et al. 2007).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Agriculture & aquaculture

Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Agriculture & aquaculture

Wood & pulp plantations (scale unknown/unrecorded)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (intentional use - species is the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesSpecies mortality; Hybridisation; Reduced reproductive success

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (persecution/control)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (unintentional effects - species is not the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects

Natural system modifications

Large dams Timing Scope Severity ImpactFuture Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation; Species mortality

Residential & commercial development

Housing & urban areas

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayThis is a protected and Red-listed species in many range states, particularly in the western parts of its range (Baumgart 1991, 1994). It is listed on CMS Appendix I and II (as of November 2011, and excluding the Mongolian population) and CITES Appendix II, and in 2002 CITES imposed a trade ban on U.A.E., strongly affecting the unregulated market there (Fox 2002). It occurs in a number of protected areas across its range. Intensive wardening and management has produced a steadily rising population in Hungary (Baumgart 1994). Controls of illegal trade were implemented in various countries in western range in the 1990s (Baumgart 1994). Captive breeding has developed strongly in some countries as a means of substituting farmed for wild-caught birds (Riddle and Remple 1994, N. Fox in litt. 2002). New research programmes in many parts of the range have begun to establish baseline data on distribution, population, ecology and threats. As a product of the resolution resulting from CMS COP10 in November 2011, a Saker Falcon Task Force was established and met for the first time in March 2012 in Abu Dhabi (U.A.E.). The task force has the objective of involving range states, partners and interested parties in the development of a coordinated Global Action Plan for the species's conservation, including a management and monitoring framework. Conservation efforts in Europe have resulted in positive population trends (A. Dixon in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions ProposedMaintain or implement programmes of population and habitat management throughout the range. Maintain or improve systems of wardening and customs control (including DNA sampling to check provenance of traded birds). Continue key biological research (Baumgart 1991, 1994). Enforce CITES regulations. Improve exportation standards including meeting IATA transportation specifications. Improve import regulations, staff capacity and practices (quarantine facilities). Monitor markets to quantify falcon trade. Develop existing microchipping schemes to help monitor and regulate trade and quantify its effects. Increase awareness of health and conservation issues among falconers. Continue studying, monitoring and censusing the species throughout its range. Maintain ecologically and socially sustainable grazing systems to ensure long-term survival of key prey species. Bring greater protection (against conversion, degradation and pollution) to key breeding environments (Baumgart 1991, Bailey et al. 2001, Fox 2002, ERWDA 2003).

BibliographyBailey, T.; Launay, F.; Sullivan, T. 2001. Health issues of the international trade of falcons and bustards in the Middle East: the need for regional monitoring and regulation? In: Potapov, S.; Banzragch, S.; Fox, N.; Barton, N. (ed.), Saker Falcon in Mongolia: research and conservation (Proceedings of II International Conference on Saker Falcon and Houbara Bustard, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 1-4 July 2000), pp. 185-195. Ministry of Nature and Environment, Ulaanbaatar.Barton, N. W. H. 2000. Trapping estimates for Saker and Peregrine Falcons used for falconry in the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Raptor Research 34: 53-55.Baumgart, W. 1991. Der Sakerfalke.Baumgart, W. 1994. Saker Falco cherrug. In: Tucker, G.M.; Heath, M.F. (ed.), Birds in Europe: their conservation status, pp. 198-199. BirdLife International (Conservation Series 3), Cambridge, UK.del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1994. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.Eastham, C. P.; Quinn, J. L.; Fox, N. C. 2000. Saker Falco cherrug and Peregrine Falco peregrinus Falcons in Asia: determining migration routes and trapping pressure. In: Chancellor, R.D.; Meyburg, B.U. (ed.), Raptors at risk: world working group on birds of prey and owls, pp. 247-258. Hancock House, Surrey, British Columbia.

BibliographyERWDA. 2003. The status of the Saker Falcon (Falcon cherrug) and assessment of trade. Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE.Fox, N. 2002. The conservation of the Saker Falcon (Falcon cherrug) and the role of CITES in UAE 2002. Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE.Hagemeijer, W.J.M. & Blair, M.J. (1997) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London.Haines, G. 2002. An assessment of the impact of trade on the Saker Falcon.Riddle, K. E.; Remple, J. D. 1994. Use of the Saker and other large falcons in Middle East falconry. In: Meyburg, B.U.; Chancellor, R.D. (ed.), Raptor conservation today, pp. 415-420. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, U.K.Snow, D. W.; Perrins, C. M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Map (see overleaf)