falcon conservation
TRANSCRIPT
What is Conservation ?• Conservation is the protection
and wise use of natural resources
• Some examples of natural resources are ;
• Water• Animals• Plants• Fossil fuels
• We must conserve natural resources to ensure their existence for the future
• Without conservation many species could become extinct
Why conserve falcons ?• Falcons are predators - they
hunt other animals for food
• A falcon is a predator at the top of the food chain
• Removing top predators from the food chain unbalances the ecosystem
• When falcons disappear - small prey, like rodents, will increase in huge numbers. This can effect human health and agricultural crops
Biodiversity and falcons • The earth has many
varieties of life forms
• It is important that humans look after and maintain the rich ‘biodiversity’ of our planet
• Falcons have appeared for many centuries in the history, art and folklore of many different world cultures
Threats facing falcons – Habitat loss
• Habitat loss through large scale farming
• Habitat loss can lead to falcons not having enough to eat and limited places to nest
• Habitat loss can lead to falcons becoming endangered or extinct
Threats facing falcons - Persecution • Falcons have been killed by
humans as it is believed that they compete for food
• Falcons are trapped and sold to falconers. Many illegally trapped falcons die when being smuggled over country borders
• These falcons were hidden under a shipment of fish
• Falcons can be overhunted which leads to a drop in the numbers
• These peregrines have been poisoned to stop them eating racing pigeons
Threats facing falcons - Electrocution
• Electrocution can kill falcons, birds of prey and other birds
• Birds perch on power lines, especially in flat areas and can be electrocuted if they touch a live line
• A saker falcon electrocuted on a power line in Qinghai, China
Threats facing falcons - DDT
• In the 1940’s a pesticide called DDT was used by farmers to kill insects that caused damage to crops
• The insects absorbed the chemicals, small birds ate the insects also absorbed the chemicals
• The peregrine falcon ate the small birds and absorbed high concentrations of the DDT chemicals
• These chemicals made the peregrine egg shells very thin and caused the eggs to break when the peregrine sat on them
• This led to huge decline in peregrine numbers – in some areas of the USA this falcon became extinct
Falcon release programmes• During the 1970’s biologists began
breeding falcons in captivity
• Peregrine falcons were bred in captivity and released into the wild in Europe and USA. Today, peregrines are no longer endangered
• There are many examples of falcon re-introduction throughout the world
• This is a re-introduction programme in Bulgaria
Captive breeding• In the past, all falcons used for
falconry were trapped in the wild and sold to falconers
• In the 1970’s falconers recognised the possibilities of breeding falcons in captivity for falconry
• There are now many breeding facilities throughout the world that breed falcons for falconers
• Breeding falcons in captivity means that less falcons are trapped in the wild
Conservation projects• The Environment Agency of Abu
Dhabi funds falcon conservation programs throughout the world
• The Saker falcon is extinct in Bulgaria due to loss of habitat and over hunting. A re-introduction program has started
• 5000 artificial nests have been erected in Mongolia for saker falcons
• Electricity lines are being fitted with perch deterrents to prevent falcons perching near the live power lines