The efforts of tens of ornithologists from BSPB/BirdLife Bulgaria in 2008 confirmed the fact, that the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) still occurs as a breeder in the country. BSPB and RSPB (the BirdLife Partner in UK) are working now intensively on the conservation of this species. The joint project is supported by the BBC Wildlife Fund. BSPB surveys the breeding localities of the falcon within a smaller-scale project, funded by Barbara Cross and Mike Roberts. The through analysis of the national Saker database (component of  the National Bird Databank with BSPB) was done at the beginning. In April 2008 BSPB experts visited Hungary and got familiar on the spot with the refinements of the highly successful experience of the Hungarian conservationists from MME/BirdLife Hungary. They took part in the work of the Hungarian team of the EU funded Saker Falcon Life Project (see photos at the end of the article). Our team noticed a lot of similarities between the situations with the species in the two countries, but also lot of differences. The analysis of this information allowed us to make very important justifications to the conservation work in Bulgaria. It was extremely important to take into consideration the more and more certain trend of natural recolonisation of the Saker into its habitats in Bulgaria – probably to some extent enhanced by the large increase of the Hungarian population.

Intensive field work is under way in Bulgaria now (see photos) and although it is too early for striking a balance, there are interesting preliminary results. The numbers of known certain occupied territories in 2008 remains stable. Data from 2007 shows occurrence of 6-7 occupied territories and of at least 2 breeding pairs. One of the last year’s nesting sites appeared to be occupied this year too, while the second one has been taken by an Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo). Another occupied nesting site was found, which was not known in 2007. There are single records of sakers during the breeding season in some of last year’s sites and at new ones.

Although sitting in front of the computers, the BSPB team of IBA experts also had significant contribution to the preservation of the sites important for the Saker. It is well known, that under the pressure of economic interestes and lobbying, the Ministry of Environment and Water softened at unacceptable level the proposed by BSPB regimes of the Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in the Bulgarian part of NATURA 2000 network. The BSPB IBA team together with scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia University and other universities prepared well-grounded statements, calling for adequate regimes for all the 114 SPAs. This was the consecutive official attempt of BSPB to ensure the preservation of the bird species for which the SPAs are designated. Amongst them are also all sites, designated for the Saker Falcon.

New field activities are ahead and they include installation of artificial nests in areas with insufficient nesting places. There will be other activities to makethe life of this magnificent bird easier within the more and more inhospitable world,  with which  man surrounds it.