The potential use of artificial nests for the management and sustainable utilization of saker falcons (Falco cherrug)

Journal of Ornithology

Md. Lutfor Rahman, Gankhuyag Purev-Ochir, Mark Etheridge, Nyambayar Batbayar, Andrew Dixon

Md. Lutfor Rahman. Andrew Dixon

International Wildlife Consultants Ltd, P.O. Box 19, Carmarthen, SA33 5YL, UK

Gankhuyag Purev-Ochir, Mark Etheridge, Nyambayar Batbayar

Wildlife Science and Conservation Center, Office 33 Undram Plaza, Bayanzurkh District, Ulaanbaatar 210351, Mongolia.

Mark Etheridge

Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, SY23 3DA, UK

Corresponding Author

Andrew Dixon

International Wildlife Consultants UK Ltd

P.O. Box 19, Carmarthen, SA33 5YL, United Kingdom

Tel: +44(0)1267 233864

E-mail address:

Appendix A. Supplementary methods

Table A1 Number of occupied artificial and natural nest sites monitored over the period 2007-2009. Nests in parentheses had already failed when first found

Year / Site Type
Artificial / Natural
2009 / 16 / 13 (1)
2008 / 11 / 13 (2)
2007 / 5 / 10 (1)
Total / 32 / 36 (4)

Table A2 Basic breeding parameters for artificial and natural nest sites during 2007-2009. Mean ± SE (N) for clutch and brood size, date of first egg laid and nestling fledging date

Year / Artificial / Natural
Clutch size / Brood size / First Egg Date / Fledge Date / Clutch size / Brood size / First Egg Date / Fledge Date
2009 / 5.06 ± 0.14 (16) / 3.75 ± 0.39 (12) / 27 March ± 3 days (16) / 15 June ± 3 days (12) / 4.50 ± 0.19 (8) / 3.86 ± 0.34 (7) / 05 April ± 1 days (8) / 27 June ± 2 days (7)
2008 / 4.73 ± 0.19 (11) / 4.00 ± 0.37 (10) / 01 April ± 4 days (11) / 24 June ± 4 days (10) / 4.82 ± 0.12 (11) / 3.50 ± 0.52 (10) / 03 April ± 3 days (11) / 18 June ± 2 days (10)
2007 / 4.80 ± 0.20 (5) / 4.00 ± 0.55 (5) / 27 March ± 3 days (5) / 18 June ± 3 days (5) / 4.89 ± 0.31 (9) / 3.89 ± 0.39 (9) / 25 March ± 4 days (9) / 15 June ± 4 days (9)
Overall / 4.91± 0.10 (32) / 3.89 ± 0.23 (27) / 29 March ± 2 days (32) / 19 June ± 2 days (27) / 4.75 ± 0.12 (28) / 3.73 ± 0.25 (26) / 01April ± 2days (28) / 20 June ± 2 days (26)

Table A3 Models used in nest survival analysis

Model / Hypothesis
S (.) / Survival is constant over time (per day)
S (.)Site Type / Survival depends on nest site type
S (.)Year / Survival depends on year
S (t) / Survival varies daily
S (.)Site Type+ Year / Survival depends on the additive effect of nest type and year
S (.)FED / Survival depends on laying date

Appendix B. Supplementary results

Table B1 Nest survival rates for artificial and natural nest sites during egg stage (Se; 39 days), nestling stage (Sn; 44 days) and for the whole nesting period (Se.Sn; 83 days)

Site / Year / Egg Stage / Nestling Stage / Whole period
N / Se / SE / N / Sn / SE / Se.Sn / SE
Artificial / 2009 / 16 / 0.939 / 0.063 / 14 / 0.818 / 0.105 / 0.768 / 0.112
2008 / 10 / 0.941 / 0.062 / 11 / 0.951 / 0.050 / 0.895 / 0.075
2007 / 5 / 0.943 / 0.063 / 5 / 0.971 / 0.052 / 0.915 / 0.078
Overall / 31 / 0.936 / 0.066 / 30 / 0.891 / 0.047 / 0.834 / 0.074
Natural / 2009 / 8 / 0.679 / 0.133 / 11 / 0.722 / 0.172 / 0.490 / 0.153
2008 / 13 / 0.690 / 0.115 / 10 / 0.934 / 0.056 / 0.644 / 0.114
2007 / 9 / 0.700 / 0.134 / 9 / 0.968 / 0.053 / 0.678 / 0.135
Overall / 30 / 0.693 / 0.116 / 30 / 0.888 / 0.049 / 0.615 / 0.108

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