This bird is endangered, due to a rapid population decline, particularly on the central Asian breeding grounds. Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United Arab Emirates have been the main destination for thousands of falcons caught and sold illegally for hefty sums at the black market. Kazakhstan is estimated to lose up to 1,000 Saker Falcons per year.
The population was estimated to be between 7,200 and 8,800 mature individuals.
This bird is resident in The Center For Birds Of Prey, Charleston, South Carolina. The Avian Center is the largest raptor rehabilitation center in the US, and a major breeding partner, and education center.
Oh goodness, that’s not many birds left.
No, and those are old numbers. This falcon is the best hunter in the world. Falconry people, especially in the Middle East, pay huge sums of money for a single bird.