Another Saker Falcon becomes a victim of electrocution

Chris has had the longest life of all the young falcons released last year and the journey of her life is a great tour around the Black Sea.

After being held for some time near the adaptation aviary in the Central Balkan, Chris took to the northeast Turkey and spent the winter on the Black Sea coast. From there, at the end of March, she headed west to native Bulgarian territories. On her way Chris stayed for a week in Istanbul, where she was photographed by Maltese photographer Ian Balzan during a struggle for territory with a local peregrine falcon around the high buildings of the ancient city. In the beginning of April, the young bird continued northeast to settle in Romanian territory, 10-15 km north of Ruse, only 150 km away from her release site - the Central Balkan. There she spent the last 3 months of life.

Most often the young falcon slept on a 110KV electricity pole, she spent her days hunting birds and ground squirrels in nearby pastures and farmland.

In the beginning of July, few days in a row the signals from Chris‘s transmitter came from the same location which alarmed the team of the project. After a visit on site, to our great regret, we found the corpse of Chris under a low-voltage electricity pole. We are certain that electrocution caused her death, the electricity pole under which she was found is unprotected and is of the type that brings highest risk for birds.

We remind you that Desi, another falcon released last year, died of electrocution near Stara Zagora. So the case of Kris only strengthens scientists and environmentalists’ belief that electrocution is one of the main mortality factors responsible for the poor state of the species in Bulgaria and Europe.

The project “Reintroduction of the Sacer Falcon in Bulgaria” is a part of the research and conservation programme Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi executed by the Institute of biodiversity and ecosystem studies –BAS, Green Balkans and International Wildlife Consultants (UK) Ltd and with the support of Spatia Wildlife and (ZOO Bojnice).

For more information contact:
Dimitar Ragiov - Project Menager
е-mail: dimitar.ragyov@gmail.com; моб.тел. +359898585553,

Hristina Klisurova - Veterinarian
Public Relations, Wildlife Rescue Centre
e-mail: hhristova@greenbalkans.org; phone: + 359 886570053