Re-introduction of the saker falcon to Bulgaria, South-East Europe

Summary

The saker falcon (Falco cherrug), globally Vulnerable and Critically Endangered in Bulgaria where the last confirmed nesting attempt occurred in 1998 amid chick theft for falconry, was the subject of a feasibility study completed in late 2009 by Bulgarian and UK researchers as the first stage of a proposed reintroduction. The study reviewed the species' historical decline, driven by early 20th-century persecution, later agricultural intensification and pesticides, and finally post-communist wildlife exploitation, and evaluated release sites, identifying a protected area in the Central Balkan Mountains with abundant prey and strong legal protection as ideal. A parallel genetic study of museum specimens is comparing the extinct Bulgarian population to surviving western populations to guide sourcing of release stock, while population modeling suggests annually releasing 20 captive-bred or translocated juveniles by hacking over five years, tracked by satellite and patagial tags, could establish a viable population. As of the report, no birds had been released, pending 2010 stakeholder consultations and permitting before a planned 2011 implementation phase. Major difficulties included resistance from some Bulgarian conservation NGOs wary of the project's funding source and perceived falconry ties, scarce and contradictory historical population data, a limited and scattered pool of genetically verified captive stock, and philosophical opposition to reintroduction given a competing EU LIFE project instead using artificial nests to encourage natural recolonization. The project rates itself Partially Successful, reflecting its position still at the feasibility and consultation stage with no releases yet undertaken.