О гнездовании балобана в Центральном Казахстане

• Main Authors: Левин, А., Карпов, Ф.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Общество с ограниченной ответственностью «Сибэкоцентр» 2005
• Subjects: БАЛОБАН; ХИЩНЫЕ ПТИЦЫ; ПЕРНАТЫЕ ХИЩНИКИ; ЛЭП; СОКОЛЫ; Aquila chrysaetos; golden eagle
• Online Access: http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/o-gnezdovanii-balobana-v-tsentralnom-kazahstane; http://cyberleninka.ru/article_covers/14764422.png

Introduction M.N. Korelov (1962) mentioned breeding of the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in the Chu-Iliy mountains, and reported the absence of breeding in the flat part of the Betpak-Dala desert. Later the Saker was surveyed and was noted to breed in the whole territory of the Betpak-Dala. It was noted that it was more abundant in the eastern mountain part of the desert (Kovshar'& all, 2004). In 1981 and 1982 R.G. Pfeffer (1983) found 7 nests with chicks. During the survey in this region in 1983 we recorded 6 birds on 21 June on the 115 km long route between the Chulakspe village and the Saskychen' sands. Two nests of the Saker were found in the central flat part of the Betpak-Dala in the Kogashik natural boundary on 13 June 1984. They were located on the wood triangular poles and contend 4 and 3 fledglings (Kovshar'& all, 2004). During the Betpak-Dala survey since 15 to 20 April 1994 we found 5 living nests on cliffs. Since 1995 within the project «The Saker in Central Asia» we were monitoring the population of the Saker of the Betpak-Dala every year. In 1995 the density of the Saker was 1.21 pairs per 100 км2. Since that time intensive exploitation of the Saker population started and as a result the number of breeding pairs has decreased. In 1999 all the known nests in the region had been destroyed. In 2000 ornithologists didn't survey the central regions of Kazakhstan and there is no recent inforation on the status of the saker population. Methods The biggest part of Central Kazakhstan was preliminarily surveyed during the period between 30 September and 8 October 2004 within the state program "Recording the number of the hunting birds of prey the Kazakhstan Republic". The total length of car survey routes was 2530 km, the length of the routes within the areas suitable for breeding was 1315 km, along power lines (PL) 598 km, in the mountains territories 484 km and in the flat areas 233 km. The second detail survey of Central Kazakhstan to find the breeding pairs of the Saker took place between 19 April to 6 May 2005. The survey routes were along PL, the total length of which was 420,6 km. Results During the trip 87 individuals of 10 species of raptors were recorded. Among raptors the most numerous were of the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 55.2% from all the records of raptors, the Saker 14.1%, Long-Legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) 12.8%, harriers (Circus sp.) 6.9%, Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 3.4%, Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 3.4%, Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) 2.3%, Great Spotted (Aquila clanga) 2.3%, Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) 1.1% and Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) 1.1%. Thus on the route over mountain territory 484 km long, two falcons were noted (0.41 individuals per 100 km). The density of Sakers on PL was 1.34 ind. per 100 km. Surveyes of the nests of the Saker in the Betpak-Dala found that the Sakers attempted to nest in old nesting places. However the press of humans on population has been hard, as indicated by the finding of nests in the old nests. The second survey of the eastern part of the Betpak-Dala desert (May, 2005) has confirmed our suggestions of an existing population of the Saker, nesting on electric poles. In this period 364 nests of different raptors were found on electric poles, 70 of which were empty. The other 294 nests were occupied by the Kestrel (166), Long-Legged Buzzard (78), Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) (18), Saker (16), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) (6) and the Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) (6). Apart from the 16 nests of the Saker with clutches and chicks, 6 occupied nesting territories, and were found with birds near the empty nests. The biggest part of the occupied nests (88.2%) located in the upper parts of the poles, less in the middle parts (9.2%) or on the traverses (2.6%). The highest density of nesting of the Saker was noted in the eastern edge of the Betpak-Dala desert, where on some fragments of PL the nests were located on every metal electric pole with an intern-nest distance of 250 m. The highest density of nesting in the Saker was noted at the high voltage PL between large industrial centers. On the fragments with metal double electric poles it reached 10.6, and on the portions of the powerline with concrete electric poles it reached 5.6 pairs per 100 km. There were no nests on the newly built metal double electric, because such poles did not have places for perching. The density was 7.9 pairs per 100 km on the old PL with metal electric poles with 3 traverses, on some from which nests located in 2-3 levels. We hoped that in this year we will find some nests at the PL, where many nests were recorded in 2004. However on the portion of 25.7 km out 104 nests found on PL 21 were occupied by kestrels, 8 Long-Legged Buzzards and 1 the Brown-necked Raven. The Saker was located in its nest only once. The density of the Saker on this PL was minimal 3.9 pairs per 100 km. Deaths birds from electrocuting on this PL was not documented. The most possible reason of the absence the Saker on this PL is the removal of adult birds and chicks. Conclusions A total of 50 breeding pairs of the Saker are estimated for the Betpak-Dala. Following the records of sakers during the breeding period in the Bektauata mountains it seems the same pairs could breed in the Kyzylray and Kent mountains. Based on our surveys of 2004 and 2005 PL seems to be the main breeding substrate in Central Kazakhstan. The Saker tends to use the PL during the periods of breeding, spring and autumn migrations. It is possible that the human pressure on the Saker populations during many years have forced the Saker to find new more safe nesting places, such as the electric poles. High electric poles give a better chance for falcons and eagles to breed, perch and hunt successfully. Acknowledgments We wish to offer thanks to Nick Fox the head of the Falcon Research Institute (UK) for funding the surveys of 2005. Introduction M.N. Korelov (1962) mentioned breeding of the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in the Chu-Iliy mountains, and reported the absence of breeding in the flat part of the Betpak-Dala desert. Later the Saker was surveyed and was noted to breed in the whole territory of the Betpak-Dala. It was noted that it was more abundant in the eastern mountain part of the desert (Kovshar'& all, 2004). In 1981 and 1982 R.G. Pfeffer (1983) found 7 nests with chicks. During the survey in this region in 1983 we recorded 6 birds on 21 June on the 115 km long route between the Chulakspe village and the Saskychen' sands. Two nests of the Saker were found in the central flat part of the Betpak-Dala in the Kogashik natural boundary on 13 June 1984. They were located on the wood triangular poles and contend 4 and 3 fledglings (Kovshar'& all, 2004). During the Betpak-Dala survey since 15 to 20 April 1994 we found 5 living nests on cliffs. Since 1995 within the project «The Saker in Central Asia» we were monitoring the population of the Saker of the Betpak-Dala every year. In 1995 the density of the Saker was 1.21 pairs per 100 км2. Since that time intensive exploitation of the Saker population started and as a result the number of breeding pairs has decreased. In 1999 all the known nests in the region had been destroyed. In 2000 ornithologists didn't survey the central regions of Kazakhstan and there is no recent inforation on the status of the saker population. Methods The biggest part of Central Kazakhstan was preliminarily surveyed during the period between 30 September and 8 October 2004 within the state program "Recording the number of the hunting birds of prey the Kazakhstan Republic". The total length of car survey routes was 2530 km, the length of the routes within the areas suitable for breeding was 1315 km, along power lines (PL) 598 km, in the mountains territories 484 km and in the flat areas 233 km. The second detail survey of Central Kazakhstan to find the breeding pairs of the Saker took place between 19 April to 6 May 2005. The survey routes were along PL, the total length of which was 420,6 km. Results During the trip 87 individuals of 10 species of raptors were recorded. Among raptors the most numerous were of the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 55.2% from all the records of raptors, the Saker 14.1%, Long-Legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) 12.8%, harriers (Circus sp.) 6.9%, Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 3.4%, Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 3.4%, Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) 2.3%, Great Spotted (Aquila clanga) 2.3%, Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) 1.1% and Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) 1.1%. Thus on the route over mountain territory 484 km long, two falcons were noted (0.41 individuals per 100 km). The density of Sakers on PL was 1.34 ind. per 100 km. Surveyes of the nests of the Saker in the Betpak-Dala found that the Sakers attempted to nest in old nesting places. However the press of humans on population has been hard, as indicated by the finding of nests in the old nests. The second survey of the eastern part of the Betpak-Dala desert (May, 2005) has confirmed our suggestions of an existing population of the Saker, nesting on electric poles. In this period 364 nests of different raptors were found on electric poles, 70 of which were empty. The other 294 nests were occupied by the Kestrel (166), Long-Legged Buzzard (78), Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) (18), Saker (16), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) (6) and the Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) (6). Apart from the 16 nests of the Saker with clutches and chicks, 6 occupied nesting territories, and were found with birds near the empty nests. The biggest part of the occupied nests (88.2%) located in the upper parts of the poles, less in the middle parts (9.2%) or on the traverses (2.6%). The highest density of nesting of the Saker was noted in the eastern edge of the Betpak-Dala desert, where on some fragments of PL the nests were located on every metal electric pole with an intern-nest distance of 250 m. The highest density of nesting in the Saker was noted at the high voltage PL between large industrial centers. On the fragments with metal double electric poles it reached 10.6, and on the portions of the powerline with concrete electric poles it reached 5.6 pairs per 100 km. There were no nests on the newly built metal double electric, because such poles did not have places for perching. The density was 7.9 pairs per 100 km on the old PL with metal electric poles with 3 traverses, on some from which nests located in 2-3 levels. We hoped that in this year we will find some nests at the PL, where many nests were recorded in 2004. However on the portion of 25.7 km out 104 nests found on PL 21 were occupied by kestrels, 8 Long-Legged Buzzards and 1 the Brown-necked Raven. The Saker was located in its nest only once. The density of the Saker on this PL was minimal 3.9 pairs per 100 km. Deaths birds from electrocuting on this PL was not documented. The most possible reason of the absence the Saker on this PL is the removal of adult birds and chicks. Conclusions A total of 50 breeding pairs of the Saker are estimated for the Betpak-Dala. Following the records of sakers during the breeding period in the Bektauata mountains it seems the same pairs could breed in the Kyzylray and Kent mountains. Based on our surveys of 2004 and 2005 PL seems to be the main breeding substrate in Central Kazakhstan. The Saker tends to use the PL during the periods of breeding, spring and autumn migrations. It is possible that the human pressure on the Saker populations during many years have forced the Saker to find new more safe nesting places, such as the electric poles. High electric poles give a better chance for falcons and eagles to breed, perch and hunt successfully. Acknowledgments We wish to offer thanks to Nick Fox the head of the Falcon Research Institute (UK) for funding the surveys of 2005.