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Falcon Conservation. School Links Programme. 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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Mongolian Artificial Nest Project

Falcon Conservation School Links Programme

What is Conservation ?Conservation is the protection and wise use of natural resources

Some examples of natural resources are ;

WaterAnimalsPlantsFossil 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 lossHabitat loss through deforestation

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 - ElectrocutionElectrocution 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 - DDTIn the 1940s 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 programmesDuring the 1970s 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 breedingIn the past, all falcons used for falconry were trapped in the wild and sold to falconers

In the 1970s 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 projectsThe 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

AcknowledgementsMany thanks to the following photographers, falconers and research biologists for images and text used in this PowerPoint :

Stig OlsenChris JohnsonDimitar RagyovAndrew DixonVitaliy SokolovPaul VercammenMa MingPeter LeekLee ODwyer

Funded by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi and supported by Mongolian Ministry of Nature Environment and Tourism. Implemented by International Wildlife Consultants , UK and Wildlife and Conservation Center, Mongolia