falconspace

[photo: AME Info]

Treasured tradition remains of releasing falcons back into the wild
The skies over Chitral, Pakistan, near the Afghani border, were this year's choice for the eleventh annual release of falcons back into the wild.
AME Info, 23 May 2005

The release came under the Falcon Release Programme initiated by the late President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, and is conducted in the hopes that the birds will rejoin the wild population and contribute to its growth and conservation.

39 Saker and 47 Peregrine falcons were released back into the wild. They included the late President's own falcons, the falcons of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and those of several other sheikhs and UAE nationals. Birds donated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as part of their contribution to the programme, were also released. Others falcons released included those previously confiscated by concerned authorities after having been smuggled into the UAE illegally. The confiscation of those illegal birds is part of the UAE's efforts to implement stricter wildlife trade regulations. 2 Peregrines and 2 Sakers were equipped with satellite transmitters to allow their movements to be tracked. One of those peregrines was owned by HH Sheikh Khalifa.

The release was organized under the supervision of Abu Dhabi's Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), with the support of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital and Falcon Foundation International (Pakistan). Organizers stated that this year in particular all birds were strong and in good shape.

As tradition goes, Arabian falconers release their birds back into the wild when the hunting season is over, but with the advent of modern technology and wealth, it has become easier to keep the best falcons year after year. However, Sheikh Zayed had always set an example and been keen to keep the tradition alive by releasing even his own falcons annually into the wild. Releasing the birds also helps to further research into the exciting phenomena of bird migration.

H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of ERWDA said that the release is just one of the many conservation efforts initiated by Sheikh Zayed and that it was a treasured tradition that will always be maintained.

This is the second time Chitral was chosen to release the falcons due to it being used as a migration route by Saker and Peregrine falcons moving northwards towards breeding grounds in central Asia.

Another consideration was the availability of water and prey species for the released birds. Saker falcons in the wild primarily feed upon small rodents and other terrestrial animals in the wild.

Annual bird migration has always been a source of fascination for humans and is often perceived as a spectacle and sometimes even a mysterious phenomenon. Scientists and researchers are intrigued by the birds' colossal avian achievements and often wonder how a bird can fly such tremendous distances without getting exhausted or die. Therefore, the preparations for the release programme began with strict veterinary procedures, which start by choosing which birds are to be released. The birds were placed in controlled isolation at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, managed by the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), to check for any bacterial infection, parasites and to ensure that they are virus free.

Only birds found to be free of infection were included in the final release programme, to guarantee that there is no chance of infecting the wild falcon population. To ensure their flight would be swift and efficient, each falcon underwent several weeks of specific training in a special camp and was fed a special diet to increase its weight, and thus improve its chances of survival during the crucial first two weeks of re-adaptation to life in the wild. The birds needed substantial reserves to fight against the elements and accomplish the extraordinary journey.

To facilitate subsequent identification in the case of recapture or being found dead, a microchip carrying a special identification number known as a PIT (passive induced transponder), weighing about 0.1 grams, was implanted under the skin of each bird. Moreover, each bird had a numbered ring (band) fitted around its leg, which was provided by ERWDA, as part of the Emirates Bird Ringing Scheme. Finally, the permit certificates from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) were obtained to allow the birds to be exported from the UAE and to be imported into Pakistan.

The late President's falcon release programme first began back in April 1995, when 107 falcons were released in the Kharan District of Pakistan's western province of Baluchistan. In the years to follow, the releases were carried out in the Gilgit District in north Pakistan in 1996 and in the Lake Issyk-kul area of Kyrgyzstan. In 1999, 79 falcons were released again in Gilgit District. In 2000, 111 Saker and Peregrine falcons were released near the Chinese and Pakistani borders. The following year, 75 falcons were released in Chitral District near the Pakistani-Afghani borders, while in 2002; the same area witnessed the release of 102 falcons. In 2003, 95 falcons were released in the skies over Gurgan Province, Iran, and last year, 76 were released near the Chinese-Pakistani borders bringing the total number of falcons released to around 1,000 falcons.