Saker Falcon in the Karatau Mountains and surrounding territories (Kazakhstan) – results of 2022 research

Abstract

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) is one of the most threatened falcon species of Northern Eurasia, the range and the number of which has fallen catastrophically over the last four decades. One large breeding group was concentrated in the Karatau Mountains in southern Kazakhstan. Based on the results of studies in 2010 and 2022, we modeled Saker Falcon distribution in Google Earth Engine using the image classification method – Random Forest (probability + regression). The area of Saker Falcon breeding biotopes in Karatau and adjacent territories is calculated at 4222.64 km2, area of habitats – 9084.3 km2. Saker Falcon population in the study area for 2010 is estimated at 128–281 pairs, 200 pairs on average; in 2022 – 28–66, 46 pairs on average, with a decrease by 77%. The “catalyst” for the collapse of the Saker Falcon population in Karatau is a prolonged depression in the number of rodents. Pairs that survive while nesting almost exclusively feed on birds. The preserved resource is important for population recovery, and the further fate of the species will depend both on restoration of rodent populations and on the pressure of other negative factors, such as poaching and mortality on overhead power lines.

Systematic Position, Status, Distribution, and Population Number of Red-Naped Shaheen in Kazakhstan

“…Gubin (2015; 2020) also does not provide any new information about the RNS in Ustyurt and the Aral Sea region. During the period of studies from 2003 to 2020 in the Aral-Caspian region, the RNS was not observed by ornithologists in the breeding period at all, despite the fact that several hundred nests of the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) were found in the region during this time (Karyakin et al, 2004;2005a;2005b;Pazhenkov, Korzhev, 2006;Mitropolsky et al, 2009;Levin, 2011a;2012;Smelansky et al, 2020). It is likely that the RNS is now only rarely seen here during the non-breeding period, as a single bird was recorded in the hills of the Kok-Aral Peninsula on September 29, 200529, (Kovalenko, 2006.…”

“…Kostin's (1956) intricate directions on the possibility of the RNS nesting on the chinks of Ustyurt were questioned by L.S. Stepanyan (1975) (Karyakin et al, 2004;Карякин и др., 2005а;2005b;Паженков, Коржев, 2006;Митропольский и др., 2009;Левин, 2011a;2012;Смелянский и др., 2020). Вероятно, здесь шахин в настоящее время встречается только крайне редко в негнездовой период, так как в in his essay on the RNS for the bird checklist of the Almaty region notes that in 2004 during 2 months of work in Ustyurt (April-May) the RNS was not encountered at all.…”

Catastrophic decline in the Griffon Vulture population in the Karatau mountains, Kazakhstan

“…In 2010, 11 survey plots with a total area of 1,273.2 km 2 were laid out in the Karatau mountains, and linear routes were drawn on six chink areas with a total length of 20.85 km (Karyakin et al, 2010). In 2022, 16 survey plots with a total area of 4,191.54 km 2 , some of which partially overlapped with 2010 plots (the overlap area was 521.72 km 2 ) (Karyakin et al, 2022b).…”

“…At the same time, in 2022 all previously identified nesting colonies of the Griffon Vulture were examined. The total length of auto routes in 2010 was 1,895 km (Karyakin et al, 2010), in 2022 -9,655 km (including 3,393 km in April-May and 6,262 km in July) (Karyakin et al, 2022b).…”

“…In 2013 and 2014 Griffon Vultures were not found in Kursai and, judging by the condition of nesting niches, they have not been used for a long time; it is possible that Griffon Vultures moved to the Kelinshektau mountain range, 30 km to the north, where in the summer of 2014-2016 up to 20-30 vultures were encountered (Gubin, Belyalov, 2017). On April 23, 2005, only an old nest was found in a niche of a rock outcrop at the top of the ridge in the central Karatau; it was identified as belonging to Griffon Vulture by feathers (Karyakin, Barabashin, 2006). 5 nests and 11 Griffon Vultures around them were found in белоголовые сипы в каньоне р. Икансу не отмечены (Колбинцев, Чаликова, 2002) (Kolbintsev, 1989).…”