Falco Cherug
The saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is an endangered species of falcon that inhabits only southeastern and partly central Europe, while the majority of the world’s range is located in Central Asia.
The saker falcon species is widespread from the area of Central and Eastern Europe to western China.
It is a migrant that winters in southern Europe and northeastern Africa. The saker falcon is a relatively large species of falcon, and as a rule, females are slightly larger than males.
The feathers on the back and wings are dark brown, while on the belly they are white with dark brown spots or stripes. However, the appearance varies a lot, both in size and color.
They inhabit mostly open areas, and the range of habitats includes steppe plains, forest steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, dry plateaus, bare slopes and hills, and mountain plateaus.
They nest on rocks, trees, but also on artificial formations such as transmission line poles, and even on tall buildings. They occupy the empty nests of other species of birds, and are very territorial and aggressively defend the nesting site, which they visit again for many years.
The saker falcon has a stronger physical structure than the gray falcon and is almost as large as the artichoke falcon, but whole in light brown tones of feathers.
The upper side of the body is brown, and the lower is pale and freckled, while the head is light. It grows up to 50 cm on average and has a wing span between 105 and 130 cm. it also differs from the gray falcon by slightly wider wings and a longer tail, which it keeps spread wide during sailing. It flies in slow wingspans and for falcons it sails less and glides through the air.
The main causes of saker falcon endangerment are the loss and degradation of suitable habitats, primarily steppes and dry grasslands due to intensified agriculture and intensive poaching to meet international trade, leading to a rapid decline in natural populations, especially in Central and East Asia. The saker falcon is a species of predator that, along with the gray falcon, is most affected by illegal trade.
Namely, the steppe falcon hunts prey near the ground in open habitats, but it is much more aggressive and agile than other species of falcons, and it boldly attacks larger prey.
Therefore, it is a favorite species among falconers. Poaching affects birds along the entire nesting area, but also in migration and wintering, and many individuals end up on the other side of the world from the place where they were caught. The most sought after in falconry are young females, so they are the most common target of poachers. Older females follow, and only then males.
Taking young females from the population creates a huge disparity between the sexes and seriously disturbs the natural balance within the population, and prevents mating and reproduction.