Saker falcon is a beautiful large raptor species from open steppes and deserts of temperate Asia and Eastern Europe. Favourite bird in falconry. But its global wild population is diminishing due to several threats - habitat degradation, powerlines and (illegal) trapping.
European subpopulation is small with just few hundred pairs and disjunct range. See the map below. @ Matyas Prommer
Czechia lies at the very margin of saker falcon range, monitoring done since 1950s has never found more than 15 pairs annually. Actually, only 2 pairs were detected in 2023 breeding season in the whole country.
An ornithologist working at Muzeum Usti decided to help the species. And in collaboration with other local organisations, a program started that installed 100 aluminium nest platforms at high voltage poles in Czechia in 2023. It was financed though Norway Grants.
(footnote: Norway is not an EU member, but it contributes its fair share of member fees to get access to free EU market, and these funds can be tapped by poor EU members to pay for various projects for "public good" reasons).
Most of these nest platforms were placed in South and Central Moravia - basicaly in and around the existing saker falcon range. A dozen or so were placed around river Ohře in NW Bohemia near German border because monitoring found a few sakers overwintering there in recent years so the idea was to attract them to maybe settle down.
In season 2024 - 3 pairs used these new metal platforms in Moravia and bred. A fourth pair decided to nest in Central Bohemia (NE of Prague) in corvid nest at high voltage pole.
In season 2025 - 7 pairs used platforms and bred in South Moravia. Two other pairs bred in Central Bohemia - one in the same place like last year, second one in poplar tree nest.
Orhithologists have tentative plans to add few nest platforms on poles in Central Bohemia in 2026, nearby those two lonely pairs (if they collect enough money). To attract more birds. It could form a new self-sufficient saker falcon subpopulation +200 km west from usual range of the species.
It will be interesting to see if nest platforms alone can substantialy increase number of pairs like it happened in Hungary or Romania. Because Czechia offers only very marginal biotop for sakers. Intensive agriculture and too many dangers like powerlines, rodent poisoning, and not enough favourite snacks (sousliks! and hamsters).
Some sources:
ČSO
Sovds
Article Prommer
New pair Avif
European subpopulation is small with just few hundred pairs and disjunct range. See the map below. @ Matyas Prommer
Czechia lies at the very margin of saker falcon range, monitoring done since 1950s has never found more than 15 pairs annually. Actually, only 2 pairs were detected in 2023 breeding season in the whole country.
An ornithologist working at Muzeum Usti decided to help the species. And in collaboration with other local organisations, a program started that installed 100 aluminium nest platforms at high voltage poles in Czechia in 2023. It was financed though Norway Grants.
(footnote: Norway is not an EU member, but it contributes its fair share of member fees to get access to free EU market, and these funds can be tapped by poor EU members to pay for various projects for "public good" reasons).
Most of these nest platforms were placed in South and Central Moravia - basicaly in and around the existing saker falcon range. A dozen or so were placed around river Ohře in NW Bohemia near German border because monitoring found a few sakers overwintering there in recent years so the idea was to attract them to maybe settle down.
In season 2024 - 3 pairs used these new metal platforms in Moravia and bred. A fourth pair decided to nest in Central Bohemia (NE of Prague) in corvid nest at high voltage pole.
In season 2025 - 7 pairs used platforms and bred in South Moravia. Two other pairs bred in Central Bohemia - one in the same place like last year, second one in poplar tree nest.
Orhithologists have tentative plans to add few nest platforms on poles in Central Bohemia in 2026, nearby those two lonely pairs (if they collect enough money). To attract more birds. It could form a new self-sufficient saker falcon subpopulation +200 km west from usual range of the species.
It will be interesting to see if nest platforms alone can substantialy increase number of pairs like it happened in Hungary or Romania. Because Czechia offers only very marginal biotop for sakers. Intensive agriculture and too many dangers like powerlines, rodent poisoning, and not enough favourite snacks (sousliks! and hamsters).
Some sources:
ČSO
Sovds
Article Prommer
New pair Avif