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The purpose of the research is to study the infection of diurnal birds of prey of the order Falconiformes with helminths and to determine the helminth species composition by the example of the Noyev Kovcheg Conservation Nature’s Nursery in the Altai Territory.Materials and methods. We studied diurnal birds of prey of the order Falconiformes for helminthosis in the Altai Territory, in the Noyev Kovcheg Conservation Nature’s Nursery, in 2022. For the parasitological study of birds, we used laboratory methods of helminthocoprological studies: helminthoovoscopy and helminthoscopy. Species identification was determined by characteristic morphological features of helminth eggs, larvae and fragments. To assess the infeсtion with certain types of helminths, we used standard indicators for parasitological research, namely, infection prevalence and infection intensity amplitude.Results and discussion. In 58 studied diurnal birds of prey of the order Falconiformes, 8 helminth species were identified of which 6 nematode species, namely, Ascaridia galli, Tetrameres sobolevi, Capillaria caudinflata, Heterakis gallinarum, Trichostrongylus spp., and Singamus trachea; 1 trematode species, Strigea spp.; and 1 cestode species, Raillietina echinobothrida. These species occurred throughout all seasons of 2022.

In this article we made a revaluation of a number of the Saker (Falco cherrug) on the Crimean Peninsula based on data obtained in an expedition conducted in May 9–26 of 2015. During this expedition Sakers were observed on 58 sites (31 times they were seen on pylons of power lines, 14 – on cliffs in the foothills of Crimean Mountains, 8 – on the coastal cliffs and 4 on the coastal precipices, and one adult male was seen in the forest shelter belt near Syvash lagoon. We revealed 49 breeding territories of Saker including 42 occupied nests with successful breeding. The estimation of the total number of breeding population on peninsula is 145–184 (mean 165) breeding pairs, including 125–159 (mean 142) pairs which breeding attempts were successful in 2015. The distance between the neighboring pairs is 1.95–15.21 km (mean 6.56±3.37 km), n=43. Pylons of power lines were used by 30 breeding pairs (61.22%) out of 49, and 29 successful nests (69.05%) out of 42 were built on pylons. Supposedly, 63.83% of all breeding pairs in Crimea are bred on pylons, and the percentage of successful nests out of the total number of nests in population is 71.89%. From the 34 nests that were built on pylons, 24 (70.59%) were located on the concrete pylons and 10 (29.41%) on the metal ones. On cliffs and precipices we found 24 nests in total. Eighteen (75%) of them were built on a bare ground, while the others were found in the nests built by other bird species (most of them were made in the former nests of the Raven (Corvus corax), and one pair occupies a nest of the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) located on cliff. The percentage of successful nests out of occupied ones was 85.71%. We found broods of 1–4 nestlings, which in average (n=23) makes 2.83±0.78 nestling per successful nest. The majority of broods (65.22%) consisted of 3 nestlings. On 20 breeding territories (90.91%) male birds were older then 2 years old, and two breeding territories (9.09%) were occupied by males of 1st or 2nd calendar-year; females on 16 breeding territories (47.06%) were older then 2 years old, on 13 territories (38,24%) were of one year old and on 5 (14,71%) territories of two years old. We suppose a population decline in a range from 4.1% to 17.7% in the coming 5 years.

This article was prepared according on the analysis of the situation with the poaching and smuggling of falcons (Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus, Saker Falcon F. cherrug and Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus) in CIS countries in 2006–2015. It is carried out within the program “Struggle against poaching and smuggling” of the Russian Raptor Research and Conservation Network. The total number of cases of “falcon detentions” in the CIS has 1.6 times increased for 10 years. The number of seized birds has 1.4 times increase from 538 in 1996–2005 to 737 in 2006–2015, including the number of Gyrfalcons has increased by 2.6 times (from 142 to 365), Saker Falcon – 1.1 times (from 260 to 284), Peregrine Falcon – 3.4 times (from 13 to 44). The rate of Gyrfalcon among seized birds has increased by 1.5 times, Peregrine Falcon – 2 times, and the rate of Saker Falcon has decreased by 1.5 times. The number of annual cases of “falcon detentions” has increased from 2–6 in 2006–2008 to 14–16 cases in 2014–2015, on an annual basis their dynamics is correlated with the changes in the legislation. The most effective detentions are in the Far East (Kamchatka and Chukotka), the second region of catching, where there are significantly more cases of detentions, is Altai-Sayan. The maximum number of detentions were made with the participation of MIA members (51); nearly half of the detentions were produced with FSS (23); 20 cases involved customs authorities; 11 cases – border guards. Regional bodies of Environmental Protection participated in arrest only 12 times, Rosprirodnadzor took part in three detentions. In 75 cases of 100 there were detained 155 people, including 51 locals, 13 residents from other regions of the same country, 13 foreign-born citizens and 65 foreigners. The maximum number of foreigners was detained in Siberia – 43 from 6 countries, they account for 75.4% of the total number of detainees, with 75% of foreigners – citizens of Syria. The export of falcons from Russia goes through the international airports of the European part of Russia and through Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Barbarous looting pillage of resources of large falcons in CIS countries, first of all, Gyrfalcon and Saker Falcon, ordered and paid by Arabian falconers. Today the existing need in falcons is ten times higher than the potential of nesting populations.

Plans of JSC “KazMunayGaz” National Company” on developing the Kansu gas field, which is situated right next to current southern borders of Usturt natural reserve on Kenderli-Kayasan conservation zone (Mangystau Province of the Republic of Kazakhstan) are a direct danger for the largest population of the Saker Falcon Falco cherrug korelovi in Kazakhstan and for Kenderli-Kayasan conservation zone’s ecosystem as a whole. On the contrary, the realization of plans to expand the Usturt State Reserve within the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan/GEF/UNDP project “Rising of stability of systems in conservation territories in desert ecosystems through promoting life sustaining sources compatible with biodiversity in and around conservation areas” and international expert group’s initiative of Mangystau Protected Area System to be nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status could create favorable environment for Usturt population of the Saker Falcon. It’s evident that all possible outcomes should be taken into account in the long-term planning of future development of Mangystau region, and options of development with less negative effect on environment should be chosen. In their letter to President of Kazakhstan the experts described their opinion on the necessity of imposing a moratorium on exploration and development of the Kansu gas field and concentrating on alternative fields.

This report summarizes information on factors impacting on the decrease in numbers of the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in Russia and Kazakhstan and analyses conditions в of the Global Action Plan that are aimed at neutralization of these factors to increase in numbers and sustainable management of the Saker Falcon in the wild.

Based on author’s research in 2014 the paper contains information on distribution, numbers and breeding biology of the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in the Altai-Sayan region. A total of 112 breeding territories of the Saker Falcon (28.9% of the territories already known in the Altai-Sayan region) located in the Krasnoyarsk Kray, Khakassia, Tyva and Altai Republics were visited in 2014: 94 territories were occupied and 44 territories were successful. Six new territories were discovered in 2014, 7 – recovered within borders of an old empty territory and 11 – were noted as abandoned in 2014. A total of 25 breeding territories of the Saker Falcon located in the Altai Kray were visited in 2014: 4 territories were occupied and 3 territories were successful. Considering the expert estimation a total of 1237–1473 pairs (averaging 1355 pairs) breed in the Altai-Sayan region in 2014, and 618–736 pairs (averaging 677 pairs) are successful. The population trend was noted as negative and was -26% per past 12 years of the census conducted. The positive population trend for the Saker Falcon has been recorded for the last 3 years due to the growth of its population in Tuva – 2% for the region. Estimation a total of 34–45 pairs (averaging 39 pairs) breed in the Altai Kray in 2014, and 17–22 pairs (averaging 19 pairs) are successful. The population trend was noted as negative and was -67% per past 12 years of the census conducted (Saker Falcon population in the pine forests has virtually been extinct).