Suchergebnisse

Birds are adapted for the environment conditions. However human began to change many nature conditions and change inhabitant places of many bird species. One of the most powerful factors, that provoked birds to occupy new inhabitant places, was the overhead power line system development. There are many publications about bird electrocution (Pererva, Blochin, 1981; Pererva, Grazhdankin, 1983; Lanovenko, Abdulnazarov, 1983; Saltykov, 1999; Karyakin et al., 2005; Karyakin, Barabashin, 2005; Karyakin, 2008; Medzhidov et al., 2005; Matsyna, 2005; 2006; Karyakin, Novikova, 2006) and this problem need the immediate solution. But in this paper I want to emphasize another side of the problem the positive impact of power lines to improve nesting conditions for many raptor species. Since the power line appearing birds began to use electric poles as perches during breeding season and migrations. However soon birds began to use electric poles and for nest building. The Raven (Corvus corax) began to inhabit power lines in forest-steppe of Russia on 10 years later than the Jackdaw (C. monedula) and the Rook (C. frugilegus) in 1980-s and has begun to spread in the steppe zone only since 1990-s. I had already found tens of raven nests on electric poles in steppes of the Middle Volga in 1995-98. The species only has begun to spread in Western Kazakhstan. There is the paper about the process of raven spreading through power lines in the Cis-Caucasus region: Belik V.P. et al., 2004. The first nest of ravens on an electric pole was found in that region in 2000. The Carrion and the Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix, C. corone)are the latest species of Corvidae who have begun to use electric poles for the nest building. Now 0.7% pairs of Hooded Crows, 4% pairs of Rooks, 30% pairs of Ravens and 55% pairs of Jackdaws build nests on electric poles in the steppe zone of the Volga-Ural region. After Corvidae birds of prey began to occupy electric poles in the forest and forest-steppe zones. The first raptors who began to nest on electric poles were little falcons the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and the Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus). Only pairs of Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons bred in the south of the Perm district in 1980-s. The number of Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon nests located on electric poles has increased to 22% and 5% accordingly in the Volga-Ural region till 2007. The first event of the Hobby (Falco subbuteo) nesting in the electric pole was registered in the Ulyanovsk district 29 July 2005. Only the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) amongst all species of owls began to occupy nests of Corvidae (usually nests of Jackdaws) built on electric poles. There are known 5 such nests. Steppe Eagles began to use electric poles in desert and semi-desert regions in the south of Russia and Western Kazakhstan. The Steppe Eagle nesting on wooden electric poles had been already noted in Kalmykia at the end of 1970-s (Survillo et al., 1977), however the species nested almost only on the ground until 1950-s and began to nest on thatch ricks only in 1950-70-s and on electric poles in 1970-80-s (Bostanzhoglo, 1911; Kozlov, 1959; Savinetskiy, Shilova, 1986; 1996). Similar process was note in Western Kazakhstan. The Steppe Eagle nesting on concrete electric pole crossarms was found in the Pre-Ural region in 1982 (Pererva, Grazhdankin, 1983). The species had occupied to nest metal and concrete poles widely in the Ural and Emba river basins already to the end of 1990-s. Now 27.3% of the total number of known nests (n=286) is built on electric poles, 52,6% of which is located on concrete pole crossarms (Karyakin, Novikova, 2006). Now the Steppe Eagle has already begun to nest on metal electric poles (15-20 m height) of power lines with high voltage in Kalmykia, the Lower Volga region, Western and the south of Central Kazakhstan, unfortunately it is isolated cases (Belik, 2004; author's information). By the way the Steppe Eagle is not noted to nest on electric poles in the north of his own range in the Samara district (Karyakin, 2002), in the west of the Orenburg district, as well as in Eastern Kazakhstan (Smelyanskiy et al., 2006) and in Southern Siberia (Karyakin et al., 2006) that are inhabited the large breeding populations of the species. Now only western subspecies of the Steppe Eagle (A. nipalensis orientalis) uses electric pole for nesting, but the eastern subspecies (A. n. nipalensis) has not yet been registered to nest on electric poles. The power line infrastructure development is believed to impact on the Long-legged Buzzard spreading in Western Kazakhstan. M.N. Korelov (1962) supposed the species not to breed or breed rarely in the territory between The Volga and the Ural rivers, however the species was found near the Elton Lake and Janybek in 1964, and 39 nests located mostly in large willows in the territory of leaved villages and on wood electric poles had been already known till 1982 (Lindeman, 1983). V.I. Pererva and A.V. Grazhdankin noted 3 nests on electric poles in the Pre-Ural Mountains region (1983). The number of the Long-legged Buzzard had being increased in the Volga-Ural semideserts till 1990-s, as the result the species have inhabited all suitable territories in the region. (Lindeman et al., 2005). Now more than 80% of local breeding groups of the Long-legged Buzzard nest on electric poles in most regions of Western and the west of Central Kazakhstan. The Upland Buzzard inhabiting mountain steppes in Mongolia and Southern Siberia as well as the Long-legged Buzzard began to nest on electric poles but it seemed to be later mostly since the end of 1970-s. The Upland Buzzard was not noted to nest on electric poles in Northern Mongolia in 1960-s (Pichocki, 1968). However the species nesting on electric poles was common in Central Mongolia at the end of 1990-s (Potapov et al., 2001). Surveying the Upland Buzzard in Tuva А.А. Baranov (1991) found 27 nests of the species located only on cliffs and trees, but nothing on electric poles. However near 40-50% of the Upland Buzzard nests had been already registered on electric poles (by the way only on wood poles) in 1999.The species seemed to begin to nest on electric poles in Tuva since 1991 to 1999. The Upland Buzzard was found to nest on electric poles in Khakassia in 2000. A.V. Davygora (1999) was the first who found the Imperial Eagle nesting on the electric pole in the woodless valley of the Irgiz river. Also active nests of the Imperial Eagle on electric poles were found in the Ustyurt Plateau and the Aral Sea region in 2003 (Karyakin et al., 2004). We found 5 pairs of the Steppe Eagle and 3 pairs of the Imperial Eagle nesting on electric poles in the Aral Sea region in 2003, however only pair nested on the electric pole in 2006, but the number of Imperial Eagle pairs increased to 9. Almost all nests of Steppe Eagles besides one were occupied by Imperial Eagles. Besides Steppe Eagles Imperial Eagles also forced Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) out and occupied 2 nests, where falcons bred earlier. As the result the density of breeding pairs of Imperial Eagles in the monitored fragment of power line increased from 2.01 to 6.03 pairs/100 km of power line while the density of Steppe Eagles decreased from 2.68 to 0.67 pairs/100 km of power line during 4 years (Karyakin, 2006). The Emperial Eagle breeding on electric poles was noted in the Emba river basin in the Kinderli-Kayasanskoe Plateau in 2004 (Levin, Karyakin, 2005), between the Turgay and Zhilanchik rivers in the south of the Kostanay district (Bragin, 2005) and in Eastern Betpak-Dala (Levin, Karpov, 2005). Also nests of Imperial Eagles on electric poles with the density 0,53 pairs/100 km of power line were surveyed in the lower reaches of the Syrdarya river to the east of the Aral Sea in 2005 (Karyakin et al., 2005), in steppes to the north of the Ulutau Mountains (Karyakin, Barabashin, 2006) and Western Betpak-Dala. Two living nests on electric poles were found in the Mugodzhary Mountains in 2006, and one of them was actually occupied by Steppe Eagles in 2004 (Pazhenkov et al., 2005); 1 in the Kalbinskiy Altai foothills (Smelyanskiy et al., 2006). We known 200 breeding pairs of the Imperial Eagles in Kazakhstan in 2006, 25 of which (12.5%) nested on electric poles, while 10 of them forced Steppe Eagles out in 2005-2006 (Karyakin, 2006). Visiting Western Betpak-Dala once again in 2007 we noted the number of nests on electric poles to increase at least in 2 times in contrast with 2005. All facts the Imperial Eagle expansion mentioned above were registered only in semidesert regions of Kazakhstan. The first active nest of the Imperia Eagle located on the concrete electric pole crossarm was found in the steppe in the territory of the Kostanay district of Kazakhstan on 24 May 2007, and the nest with 2 fledglings located on the metal electric pole was found in the forest-steppe in the north-east of the Samara district of Russia on 7 August 2007. The Black-eared Kite (M. m. lineatus) was the first subspecies of the Black Kite which began to nest on electric poles. The Black-eared Kite began actively to nest on metal electric poles along the Enisey river valley in the Tuva depression in 1999-2006. There were 12 nests near Kyzyl and Ak-Dovurak till 2006. The Black Kite breeding on the metal electric pole was registered in the Republic of Altai in 2000, later a breeding colony consisting of 11 active nests and located on metal electric poles was found in the Chuya steppe. The first nest of the Black Kite on the electric pole was found in the Minusinsk depression in 2006. The first living nest of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) built on the top on the metal electric pole was found in the Kerzhenets river valley in the N. Novgorod district in 2007. V.G. Kolbintsev (2004) noted the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) nesting on the electric pole in the desert near Kyzylkol Lake in the Maly Karatau Mountains foothills. Also A.V. Kovalenko (pers. com.) surveyed a nest of the Short-toed Eagle on the electric pole in the south-eastern Kazakhstan. The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nesting on electric poles was found in the Ustyurt Plateau: 2 nests located in metal electric poles were visited in 2003 (Karyakin et al., 2004). The Buzzard (Buteo buteo) only one of 1113 found nests in the Ural region located on the metal electric pole in deciduous forest was registered in the Chelyabinsk district (Karyakin, 1998). Following the Upland Buzzard and the Raven the Saker Falcon occupying their nests began to inhabit electric poles in Mongolia in 1970-s. The Saker pairs breeding on artificial structures (55.3%) were considered to outnumber the pairs on the natural substrates in the Central Mongolia at the end of 1990-s (Potapov et al., 2001). Sakers nesting on electric poles were registered in Tuva in 1990-s. Surveying Sakers in Tuva A.A. Baranov (1991) did not found any nests of falcons on electric poles. However Sakers were noted to occupy Upland Buzzard nests on wooden electric poles in the Ubsunur and Tuva depression in 1999. Local herders cut down poles with 9 nests of sakers in the left side of the Tes-Chem river since 1999 to 2003, 93.3%, of saker nests (n=13) were destroyed in the steppe region near Agar-Dag-Taiga Mountains during 7 years (Karyakin, 2005а; 2005б), the all 3 poles with saker nests were cut down near the Cheder and Chadyn Lakes in the Tuva depression. A pair of Sakers was noted to breed in the Raven nest on the wooden pole of only functioning power line in 2006. As the result of power line destroying by herders and poaching the number of Sakers decreased in Tuva and falcons has not begun to nest on metal electric poles. Sakers breeding on electric poles were not found in the all territory of the range in Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan. The first and last nest of the Saker made by Ravens on concrete electric pole were existing in the north-west of the Orenburg district in the European part of Russia during 2 years in 1998-99 (Karyakin et al., 2005). Sakers has not registered in the Volga and Pre-Ural regions since 2005. The largest density of the Saker was registered on following poles of power lines located in Eastern Betpak-Dala and the Balkhash Lake region (Kazakhstan): in fragments with metal double poles 10.6 pairs/100 km; in fragments with concrete poles 5.6 pairs/100 km, in fragments with single metal poles 7.9 pairs /100 km. The minimal density (3.9 pairs/100 km) was noted for the power line in the territory of military polygon (Levin, Karpov, 2005). Only nest of Sakers made by Imperial Eagles was found on the concrete pole in Western Betpak-Dala in 2005 (Karyakin, Barabashin, 2006). Also Sakers nesting on metal and concrete poles of the power line locating in the Sarysu river basin in south-west of the Kazakh Upland in 2007. Sakers breeds sufficiently sporadically in sands of the Aral Sea region. A.V. Kovalenko (pers. com.) found 2 pairs of Sakers breeding on concrete poles of power line along the Syr-Darya river in 2005. Four pairs were registered in nests made by eagles on concrete poles of the destroyed power line 183 km in length in the Bolshye Barsuki sands in 2003 (Karyakin et al., 2005). Now Sakers are not found to breed on electric poles to the west of the Bolshye Barsuki sands in Kazakhstan and Russia up to the Western Ukraine. Thus the power lines using by birds are distinguished in different regions and years. Appearing in bird inhabitant places power lines impact differently on different subpopulation of the species and it depends on different factors. The most distinguished differences of developing abilities to nest on electric poles development adaptation are revealed between the Steppe and Imperial Eagles. Escaping negative factors pairs of the Steppe Eagle western subspecies began to use electric pole for nesting in optimal breeding habitat, but the Imperial Eagle began to use electric pole as the result of moving from optimal to sub-optimal habitats. Our research confirms power lines to be very important for creating subpopulations of raptor species in untypical places for raptors and therefore and influence development of population structure of those species. From one hand their adaptation to nest on electric poles especially in human disturbed territories promotes their survival. But from another hand birds become to depend on the power engineering management. Now when extensive using of electric poles by raptors is noted, the special program need for collaboration between ornithologists and power engineering specialists for bird protection from electrocution. ; Birds are adapted for the environment conditions. However human began to change many nature conditions and change inhabitant places of many bird species. One of the most powerful factors, that provoked birds to occupy new inhabitant places, was the overhead power line system development. There are many publications about bird electrocution (Pererva, Blochin, 1981; Pererva, Grazhdankin, 1983; Lanovenko, Abdulnazarov, 1983; Saltykov, 1999; Karyakin et al., 2005; Karyakin, Barabashin, 2005; Karyakin, 2008; Medzhidov et al., 2005; Matsyna, 2005; 2006; Karyakin, Novikova, 2006) and this problem need the immediate solution. But in this paper I want to emphasize another side of the problem the positive impact of power lines to improve nesting conditions for many raptor species. Since the power line appearing birds began to use electric poles as perches during breeding season and migrations. However soon birds began to use electric poles and for nest building. The Raven (Corvus corax) began to inhabit power lines in forest-steppe of Russia on 10 years later than the Jackdaw (C. monedula) and the Rook (C. frugilegus) in 1980-s and has begun to spread in the steppe zone only since 1990-s. I had already found tens of raven nests on electric poles in steppes of the Middle Volga in 1995-98. The species only has begun to spread in Western Kazakhstan. There is the paper about the process of raven spreading through power lines in the Cis-Caucasus region: Belik V.P. et al., 2004. The first nest of ravens on an electric pole was found in that region in 2000. The Carrion and the Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix, C. corone)are the latest species of Corvidae who have begun to use electric poles for the nest building. Now 0.7% pairs of Hooded Crows, 4% pairs of Rooks, 30% pairs of Ravens and 55% pairs of Jackdaws build nests on electric poles in the steppe zone of the Volga-Ural region. After Corvidae birds of prey began to occupy electric poles in the forest and forest-steppe zones. The first raptors who began to nest on electric poles were little falcons the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and the Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus). Only pairs of Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons bred in the south of the Perm district in 1980-s. The number of Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon nests located on electric poles has increased to 22% and 5% accordingly in the Volga-Ural region till 2007. The first event of the Hobby (Falco subbuteo) nesting in the electric pole was registered in the Ulyanovsk district 29 July 2005. Only the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) amongst all species of owls began to occupy nests of Corvidae (usually nests of Jackdaws) built on electric poles. There are known 5 such nests. Steppe Eagles began to use electric poles in desert and semi-desert regions in the south of Russia and Western Kazakhstan. The Steppe Eagle nesting on wooden electric poles had been already noted in Kalmykia at the end of 1970-s (Survillo et al., 1977), however the species nested almost only on the ground until 1950-s and began to nest on thatch ricks only in 1950-70-s and on electric poles in 1970-80-s (Bostanzhoglo, 1911; Kozlov, 1959; Savinetskiy, Shilova, 1986; 1996). Similar process was note in Western Kazakhstan. The Steppe Eagle nesting on concrete electric pole crossarms was found in the Pre-Ural region in 1982 (Pererva, Grazhdankin, 1983). The species had occupied to nest metal and concrete poles widely in the Ural and Emba river basins already to the end of 1990-s. Now 27.3% of the total number of known nests (n=286) is built on electric poles, 52,6% of which is located on concrete pole crossarms (Karyakin, Novikova, 2006). Now the Steppe Eagle has already begun to nest on metal electric poles (15-20 m height) of power lines with high voltage in Kalmykia, the Lower Volga region, Western and the south of Central Kazakhstan, unfortunately it is isolated cases (Belik, 2004; author's information). By the way the Steppe Eagle is not noted to nest on electric poles in the north of his own range in the Samara district (Karyakin, 2002), in the west of the Orenburg district, as well as in Eastern Kazakhstan (Smelyanskiy et al., 2006) and in Southern Siberia (Karyakin et al., 2006) that are inhabited the large breeding populations of the species. Now only western subspecies of the Steppe Eagle (A. nipalensis orientalis) uses electric pole for nesting, but the eastern subspecies (A. n. nipalensis) has not yet been registered to nest on electric poles. The power line infrastructure development is believed to impact on the Long-legged Buzzard spreading in Western Kazakhstan. M.N. Korelov (1962) supposed the species not to breed or breed rarely in the territory between The Volga and the Ural rivers, however the species was found near the Elton Lake and Janybek in 1964, and 39 nests located mostly in large willows in the territory of leaved villages and on wood electric poles had been already known till 1982 (Lindeman, 1983). V.I. Pererva and A.V. Grazhdankin noted 3 nests on electric poles in the Pre-Ural Mountains region (1983). The number of the Long-legged Buzzard had being increased in the Volga-Ural semideserts till 1990-s, as the result the species have inhabited all suitable territories in the region. (Lindeman et al., 2005). Now more than 80% of local breeding groups of the Long-legged Buzzard nest on electric poles in most regions of Western and the west of Central Kazakhstan. The Upland Buzzard inhabiting mountain steppes in Mongolia and Southern Siberia as well as the Long-legged Buzzard began to nest on electric poles but it seemed to be later mostly since the end of 1970-s. The Upland Buzzard was not noted to nest on electric poles in Northern Mongolia in 1960-s (Pichocki, 1968). However the species nesting on electric poles was common in Central Mongolia at the end of 1990-s (Potapov et al., 2001). Surveying the Upland Buzzard in Tuva А.А. Baranov (1991) found 27 nests of the species located only on cliffs and trees, but nothing on electric poles. However near 40-50% of the Upland Buzzard nests had been already registered on electric poles (by the way only on wood poles) in 1999.The species seemed to begin to nest on electric poles in Tuva since 1991 to 1999. The Upland Buzzard was found to nest on electric poles in Khakassia in 2000. A.V. Davygora (1999) was the first who found the Imperial Eagle nesting on the electric pole in the woodless valley of the Irgiz river. Also active nests of the Imperial Eagle on electric poles were found in the Ustyurt Plateau and the Aral Sea region in 2003 (Karyakin et al., 2004). We found 5 pairs of the Steppe Eagle and 3 pairs of the Imperial Eagle nesting on electric poles in the Aral Sea region in 2003, however only pair nested on the electric pole in 2006, but the number of Imperial Eagle pairs increased to 9. Almost all nests of Steppe Eagles besides one were occupied by Imperial Eagles. Besides Steppe Eagles Imperial Eagles also forced Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) out and occupied 2 nests, where falcons bred earlier. As the result the density of breeding pairs of Imperial Eagles in the monitored fragment of power line increased from 2.01 to 6.03 pairs/100 km of power line while the density of Steppe Eagles decreased from 2.68 to 0.67 pairs/100 km of power line during 4 years (Karyakin, 2006). The Emperial Eagle breeding on electric poles was noted in the Emba river basin in the Kinderli-Kayasanskoe Plateau in 2004 (Levin, Karyakin, 2005), between the Turgay and Zhilanchik rivers in the south of the Kostanay district (Bragin, 2005) and in Eastern Betpak-Dala (Levin, Karpov, 2005). Also nests of Imperial Eagles on electric poles with the density 0,53 pairs/100 km of power line were surveyed in the lower reaches of the Syrdarya river to the east of the Aral Sea in 2005 (Karyakin et al., 2005), in steppes to the north of the Ulutau Mountains (Karyakin, Barabashin, 2006) and Western Betpak-Dala. Two living nests on electric poles were found in the Mugodzhary Mountains in 2006, and one of them was actually occupied by Steppe Eagles in 2004 (Pazhenkov et al., 2005); 1 in the Kalbinskiy Altai foothills (Smelyanskiy et al., 2006). We known 200 breeding pairs of the Imperial Eagles in Kazakhstan in 2006, 25 of which (12.5%) nested on electric poles, while 10 of them forced Steppe Eagles out in 2005-2006 (Karyakin, 2006). Visiting Western Betpak-Dala once again in 2007 we noted the number of nests on electric poles to increase at least in 2 times in contrast with 2005. All facts the Imperial Eagle expansion mentioned above were registered only in semidesert regions of Kazakhstan. The first active nest of the Imperia Eagle located on the concrete electric pole crossarm was found in the steppe in the territory of the Kostanay district of Kazakhstan on 24 May 2007, and the nest with 2 fledglings located on the metal electric pole was found in the forest-steppe in the north-east of the Samara district of Russia on 7 August 2007. The Black-eared Kite (M. m. lineatus) was the first subspecies of the Black Kite which began to nest on electric poles. The Black-eared Kite began actively to nest on metal electric poles along the Enisey river valley in the Tuva depression in 1999-2006. There were 12 nests near Kyzyl and Ak-Dovurak till 2006. The Black Kite breeding on the metal electric pole was registered in the Republic of Altai in 2000, later a breeding colony consisting of 11 active nests and located on metal electric poles was found in the Chuya steppe. The first nest of the Black Kite on the electric pole was found in the Minusinsk depression in 2006. The first living nest of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) built on the top on the metal electric pole was found in the Kerzhenets river valley in the N. Novgorod district in 2007. V.G. Kolbintsev (2004) noted the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) nesting on the electric pole in the desert near Kyzylkol Lake in the Maly Karatau Mountains foothills. Also A.V. Kovalenko (pers. com.) surveyed a nest of the Short-toed Eagle on the electric pole in the south-eastern Kazakhstan. The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nesting on electric poles was found in the Ustyurt Plateau: 2 nests located in metal electric poles were visited in 2003 (Karyakin et al., 2004). The Buzzard (Buteo buteo) only one of 1113 found nests in the Ural region located on the metal electric pole in deciduous forest was registered in the Chelyabinsk district (Karyakin, 1998). Following the Upland Buzzard and the Raven the Saker Falcon occupying their nests began to inhabit electric poles in Mongolia in 1970-s. The Saker pairs breeding on artificial structures (55.3%) were considered to outnumber the pairs on the natural substrates in the Central Mongolia at the end of 1990-s (Potapov et al., 2001). Sakers nesting on electric poles were registered in Tuva in 1990-s. Surveying Sakers in Tuva A.A. Baranov (1991) did not found any nests of falcons on electric poles. However Sakers were noted to occupy Upland Buzzard nests on wooden electric poles in the Ubsunur and Tuva depression in 1999. Local herders cut down poles with 9 nests of sakers in the left side of the Tes-Chem river since 1999 to 2003, 93.3%, of saker nests (n=13) were destroyed in the steppe region near Agar-Dag-Taiga Mountains during 7 years (Karyakin, 2005а; 2005б), the all 3 poles with saker nests were cut down near the Cheder and Chadyn Lakes in the Tuva depression. A pair of Sakers was noted to breed in the Raven nest on the wooden pole of only functioning power line in 2006. As the result of power line destroying by herders and poaching the number of Sakers decreased in Tuva and falcons has not begun to nest on metal electric poles. Sakers breeding on electric poles were not found in the all territory of the range in Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan. The first and last nest of the Saker made by Ravens on concrete electric pole were existing in the north-west of the Orenburg district in the European part of Russia during 2 years in 1998-99 (Karyakin et al., 2005). Sakers has not registered in the Volga and Pre-Ural regions since 2005. The largest density of the Saker was registered on following poles of power lines located in Eastern Betpak-Dala and the Balkhash Lake region (Kazakhstan): in fragments with metal double poles 10.6 pairs/100 km; in fragments with concrete poles 5.6 pairs/100 km, in fragments with single metal poles 7.9 pairs /100 km. The minimal density (3.9 pairs/100 km) was noted for the power line in the territory of military polygon (Levin, Karpov, 2005). Only nest of Sakers made by Imperial Eagles was found on the concrete pole in Western Betpak-Dala in 2005 (Karyakin, Barabashin, 2006). Also Sakers nesting on metal and concrete poles of the power line locating in the Sarysu river basin in south-west of the Kazakh Upland in 2007. Sakers breeds sufficiently sporadically in sands of the Aral Sea region. A.V. Kovalenko (pers. com.) found 2 pairs of Sakers breeding on concrete poles of power line along the Syr-Darya river in 2005. Four pairs were registered in nests made by eagles on concrete poles of the destroyed power line 183 km in length in the Bolshye Barsuki sands in 2003 (Karyakin et al., 2005). Now Sakers are not found to breed on electric poles to the west of the Bolshye Barsuki sands in Kazakhstan and Russia up to the Western Ukraine. Thus the power lines using by birds are distinguished in different regions and years. Appearing in bird inhabitant places power lines impact differently on different subpopulation of the species and it depends on different factors. The most distinguished differences of developing abilities to nest on electric poles development adaptation are revealed between the Steppe and Imperial Eagles. Escaping negative factors pairs of the Steppe Eagle western subspecies began to use electric pole for nesting in optimal breeding habitat, but the Imperial Eagle began to use electric pole as the result of moving from optimal to sub-optimal habitats. Our research confirms power lines to be very important for creating subpopulations of raptor species in untypical places for raptors and therefore and influence development of population structure of those species. From one hand their adaptation to nest on electric poles especially in human disturbed territories promotes their survival. But from another hand birds become to depend on the power engineering management. Now when extensive using of electric poles by raptors is noted, the special program need for collaboration between ornithologists and power engineering specialists for bird protection from electrocution.

The fundamental principle underlying governmental environmental policy is the maintenance of the human right to favorable natural environment. In this connection the objects of wildlife are recognized as an integral component of the environment. The principal documents that include the legislative principles of wildlife protection are the Federal Acts On Wildlife' and On Environment Conservation, as well as several other legislative acts. One of the main documents that defines the necessity of protection of birds in connection to the exploitation of power and communication lines is Requirement on prevention of death of animals in connection to the execution of manufacturing processes, as well as the use of ways, pipelines, communication and power lines, approved by Decision №997 of the Government of the Russian Federation on 13.08.1996. Article 37 of this document declared that the power lines with voltage 6-10 kV should be equipped with bird-protective constructions. Exemplary list of directions from a governmental authority of a federal subject to owners of power lines with voltage 6-10 kV based on facts of violations of legislation on nature protection: 1. Monitor the used power lines with voltage 6-10 kV within the measures of environment conservation and restoration, rational use and recovery of natural resources and maintenance of environmental safety. 2. Equip power lines with voltage 6-10 kV according to the requirements of legislation in force. 3. Develop a set of measures on restoration and recovery of objects of wildlife susceptible to negative impact on the basis of the monitoring the power lines with voltage 6-10 kV. In the case of verified deaths of birds from electrocution on power lines (discovery of dead birds) the owner of the line should compensate the caused damage accordingly through fixed tariffs and techniques of estimation of damage caused to the wildlife. ; The fundamental principle underlying governmental environmental policy is the maintenance of the human right to favorable natural environment. In this connection the objects of wildlife are recognized as an integral component of the environment. The principal documents that include the legislative principles of wildlife protection are the Federal Acts On Wildlife' and On Environment Conservation, as well as several other legislative acts. One of the main documents that defines the necessity of protection of birds in connection to the exploitation of power and communication lines is Requirement on prevention of death of animals in connection to the execution of manufacturing processes, as well as the use of ways, pipelines, communication and power lines, approved by Decision №997 of the Government of the Russian Federation on 13.08.1996. Article 37 of this document declared that the power lines with voltage 6-10 kV should be equipped with bird-protective constructions. Exemplary list of directions from a governmental authority of a federal subject to owners of power lines with voltage 6-10 kV based on facts of violations of legislation on nature protection: 1. Monitor the used power lines with voltage 6-10 kV within the measures of environment conservation and restoration, rational use and recovery of natural resources and maintenance of environmental safety. 2. Equip power lines with voltage 6-10 kV according to the requirements of legislation in force. 3. Develop a set of measures on restoration and recovery of objects of wildlife susceptible to negative impact on the basis of the monitoring the power lines with voltage 6-10 kV. In the case of verified deaths of birds from electrocution on power lines (discovery of dead birds) the owner of the line should compensate the caused damage accordingly through fixed tariffs and techniques of estimation of damage caused to the wildlife.

Мониторинг белоплечего орлана (Haliaeetus pelagicus) был начат в 1991 году на побережье Тауйской губы Охотского моря и на территории Кава-Челомджинского участка заповедника «Магаданский». В последующие годы мониторинг был распространён на территорию Ямского участка заповедника и на побережье северного Охотоморья в пределах Магаданской области и Хабаровского края. Для учётов мы применяли традиционные методы обследования с моторной лодки с использованием гироскопического бинокля, облёты на сверхлёгких летательных аппаратах (дельталётах), а с 2012 года и беспилотные летательные аппараты (БПЛА). В статье приводятся наиболее значимые выводы, основанные на результатах долгосрочного мониторинга орланов, а также обсуждаются трудности, которые испытывают исследователи при проведении столь длительного проекта в условиях экономических реалий пост-советского времени. ; The Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) monitoring has begun in the Tauy Bay and in the Kava-Chelomdja portion of the Magadan State reserve in 1992. In the subsequent years the monitoring spread into the Yama portion of the Magadan Reserve and to the coasts of the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk within the limits of the Magadan and Khabarovsk districts. The counts we carried out by the traditional motor-boat surveys using gyroscopic binoculars, aerial surveys using microlight weight-shift aircraft, and from 2012 we also employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The paper presents most significant results of the monitoring and difficulties imposed on the researchers by the realities of the economic and political situation of post-soviet times.

Electrocutions on power lines with voltage 6-10 kV is the one of the significant factors impacting negatively on dynamics of number of many species of birds of prey in steppes, semideserts and deserts in Kazakhstan. We monitored 13 fragments of power lines potentially lethal to raptors with total length 288.2 km (fig. 1, table 1) in 2003-2007. We registered all fresh corpses of electrocuted birds of prey on the monitored fragments. Also in the zone of influence of potentially lethal power lines (up to 5 km) we recorded all living birds of prey and, whenever possible, searched their nests. Monitoring the zone of influence of the power line we recorded 81 living birds of prey that was only 26.6 % from the total number of recorded birds. We found 223 carcasses of electrocuted raptors (73.4 %). The power line seems to be the most hazards for White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), Greater Spotted Eagles (Aquila clanga) and Short-toed Eagles (Circaetus gallicus), because these species were registered only further than 5 km from the power line. The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) absolutely dominated among the electrocuted birds, making 49.8 % from their total number (fig. 2), and the portion of the species was high also in territories where this species does not breed. Dangerous power lines have horrendous effect especially in the regions with the dense breeding of the Steppe Eagle up to 108.4 ind./10 km of the power line. More than 90 % of steppe eagles are killed by electrocution in the zone of influence of power line at the beginning of the breeding period and only 9.8 % of records are living birds, but in the most cases they are killed during the breeding period. The portion of living kestrels registered in the zone of the power line influence was 64.9 % it is only due to the small size of birds. The Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) adapt to dangerous electric poles presence because in the zone of power line influence more than a half of living birds from the total number of records was registered. Adaptation of adult Imperial Eagles is confirmed by the fact that the most part of recorded electrocuted eagles were juvenile while the most records (60 %) of other species were adults. 77.6 % of recorded electrocuted birds were breeding and only 22.4 % were migrating. About 80-90 % of recorded electrocuted birds are Steppe Eagles and Long-legged Buzzard in Western Kazakhstan. The portion of Golden Eagles and Short-toed Eagled is more in Central Kazakhstan. Only following the data of satellite images Landsat ETM + and QuickBird the length of potentially lethal for birds power lines is 9478 km. According with average data of our monitoring of power lines (7.74 ind./10 km) about 58000 birds of prey are projected to be killed by electrocution every year only during spring migration (8 weeks). And the Steppe Eagles dominate absolutely about 29000 individuals. 355500 individuals from electrocuted birds of prey are the species listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan for murdering of which are punished by the legislation. However the state nature protection bodies do not undertake any efforts on punishment of owners of power lines-killers. We believe the target project on bird protection actions to retrofit exiting electric poles-killers should be realized in Kazakhstan at the state level. ; Electrocutions on power lines with voltage 6-10 kV is the one of the significant factors impacting negatively on dynamics of number of many species of birds of prey in steppes, semideserts and deserts in Kazakhstan. We monitored 13 fragments of power lines potentially lethal to raptors with total length 288.2 km (fig. 1, table 1) in 2003-2007. We registered all fresh corpses of electrocuted birds of prey on the monitored fragments. Also in the zone of influence of potentially lethal power lines (up to 5 km) we recorded all living birds of prey and, whenever possible, searched their nests. Monitoring the zone of influence of the power line we recorded 81 living birds of prey that was only 26.6 % from the total number of recorded birds. We found 223 carcasses of electrocuted raptors (73.4 %). The power line seems to be the most hazards for White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), Greater Spotted Eagles (Aquila clanga) and Short-toed Eagles (Circaetus gallicus), because these species were registered only further than 5 km from the power line. The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) absolutely dominated among the electrocuted birds, making 49.8 % from their total number (fig. 2), and the portion of the species was high also in territories where this species does not breed. Dangerous power lines have horrendous effect especially in the regions with the dense breeding of the Steppe Eagle up to 108.4 ind./10 km of the power line. More than 90 % of steppe eagles are killed by electrocution in the zone of influence of power line at the beginning of the breeding period and only 9.8 % of records are living birds, but in the most cases they are killed during the breeding period. The portion of living kestrels registered in the zone of the power line influence was 64.9 % it is only due to the small size of birds. The Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) adapt to dangerous electric poles presence because in the zone of power line influence more than a half of living birds from the total number of records was registered. Adaptation of adult Imperial Eagles is confirmed by the fact that the most part of recorded electrocuted eagles were juvenile while the most records (60 %) of other species were adults. 77.6 % of recorded electrocuted birds were breeding and only 22.4 % were migrating. About 80-90 % of recorded electrocuted birds are Steppe Eagles and Long-legged Buzzard in Western Kazakhstan. The portion of Golden Eagles and Short-toed Eagled is more in Central Kazakhstan. Only following the data of satellite images Landsat ETM + and QuickBird the length of potentially lethal for birds power lines is 9478 km. According with average data of our monitoring of power lines (7.74 ind./10 km) about 58000 birds of prey are projected to be killed by electrocution every year only during spring migration (8 weeks). And the Steppe Eagles dominate absolutely about 29000 individuals. 355500 individuals from electrocuted birds of prey are the species listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan for murdering of which are punished by the legislation. However the state nature protection bodies do not undertake any efforts on punishment of owners of power lines-killers. We believe the target project on bird protection actions to retrofit exiting electric poles-killers should be realized in Kazakhstan at the state level.

The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) is a typical breeding species of Mongolia. Interest to the numbers of Saker Falcons in Mongolia was shown long. Kozlova (1930) mentioned about high numbers of Sakers in Southern and South-Western Khangai. Sushkin (1938) stated that the Sakers are not un-common birds in Western Mongolia. Mongolian ornithologists started to pay special attention to the numbers of Sakers in Mongolia since 1960-s. D. Erdendagva carried out a preliminary survey of Sakers in Southern Khangai in summer 1963. According to his data on 160 km route where he recorded 2 falcons on 1 km of route. In 1965 in Eastern Khangai, where Shagdarsuren et al. (2001) recorded 10 falcons along 30 km of survey route. If compared to the previous data, the numbers were lower here. They also repeated the counts in Arvaikeer in South-Eastern Khangai, where the numbers were higher as on one km of route they counted 1 falcon. According to Ellis & Tsengeg (1997) data in the breeding season in the Altai Mountain they saw 2 individuals per 30 km of survey route, in Khangai 6 individuals per 30 km of route, and Mongolian-Daurian steppes 2 individuals per 30 km of survey route. However in August along trunk road Ulaanbaatar Bayankhongor along 600 km route the authors counted 320 falcons or 16 individuals per 30 km of route. In 1998-2000 within an agreement between the Ministry of Nature and Environment, Mongolia and the National Avian Research Center, ERWDA, UAE a project aiming on counting the numbers of Saker Falcons has been carried out (Potapov et al., 1999a, b; Shijirmaa et al. 1999). Field teams have made repeated surveys of Saker Falcons in 5 study areas. The total area by the study areas is 16,947.5 km2, which is 1.1 % of all territory of Mongolia. The average breeding density of Sakers in control territories increased from 2.7 pairs per 1000 km2 in 1998 to 2.83 pairs per 1000 km2 in 1999, and then decreased to 2.1 pairs per 1000 km2 in 2000. Two control areas checked in 2000 had an decrease of the breeding density (from 8 to 7 breeding pairs and from 16 to 11) and decreased production rate (from 6.1 young from 1000 km2 in 1998 to 9.4 young from 1000km2 in 1999 and 5.8 young from 1000km2 in 2000). Estimate the population size of Sakers in Mongolia went up from 2823 pairs in 1998 to 2961 pairs in 1999 and down to 2220 pairs in 2000. The Sakers in Mongolia produced 6382 young in 1998, 9834 young in 1999 and 4450 in 2000. Following data of counts in 2002, about 6050 Sakers had already inhabited the all territory of Mongolia. And a total of 1000-1200 pairs were estimated to breed in Mongolia in 2003 (Fox et al., 2003). After 90-s the first legal and illegal groups of trappers were created in Mongolia. Legal groups of trappers received from the government the sanction to withdrawal sakers from the nature. Near 1000 Sakers were exported to Gulf States with legal permissions since 1993 to 2002, and the same number (or even probably more), was exported illegally. Only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait imported from Mongolia about 700 Sakers for that period. The permission to catch and export 300 Sakers at the price of 4600 $ for the bird was given out in 2002. The most part of falcons were female including northern migrants. Despite of a high share of caught migrating birds, the number of the Saker noticeably reduces especially in those regions where the press of catching is intensive. Thus the urgent measures need to protect and rational use the species. The following concern to such measures: Carry out counts and records of Saker nests in all administrative regions of the country and protect they; Prohibit the scattering of chemical poisons; Establish the system of struggle against illegal export; Erect artificial nests in the open territories; Establish a falcon center for breeding Sakers in captivity with their subsequent release in the nature in Mongolia. ; The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) is a typical breeding species of Mongolia. Interest to the numbers of Saker Falcons in Mongolia was shown long. Kozlova (1930) mentioned about high numbers of Sakers in Southern and South-Western Khangai. Sushkin (1938) stated that the Sakers are not un-common birds in Western Mongolia. Mongolian ornithologists started to pay special attention to the numbers of Sakers in Mongolia since 1960-s. D. Erdendagva carried out a preliminary survey of Sakers in Southern Khangai in summer 1963. According to his data on 160 km route where he recorded 2 falcons on 1 km of route. In 1965 in Eastern Khangai, where Shagdarsuren et al. (2001) recorded 10 falcons along 30 km of survey route. If compared to the previous data, the numbers were lower here. They also repeated the counts in Arvaikeer in South-Eastern Khangai, where the numbers were higher as on one km of route they counted 1 falcon. According to Ellis & Tsengeg (1997) data in the breeding season in the Altai Mountain they saw 2 individuals per 30 km of survey route, in Khangai 6 individuals per 30 km of route, and Mongolian-Daurian steppes 2 individuals per 30 km of survey route. However in August along trunk road Ulaanbaatar Bayankhongor along 600 km route the authors counted 320 falcons or 16 individuals per 30 km of route. In 1998-2000 within an agreement between the Ministry of Nature and Environment, Mongolia and the National Avian Research Center, ERWDA, UAE a project aiming on counting the numbers of Saker Falcons has been carried out (Potapov et al., 1999a, b; Shijirmaa et al. 1999). Field teams have made repeated surveys of Saker Falcons in 5 study areas. The total area by the study areas is 16,947.5 km2, which is 1.1 % of all territory of Mongolia. The average breeding density of Sakers in control territories increased from 2.7 pairs per 1000 km2 in 1998 to 2.83 pairs per 1000 km2 in 1999, and then decreased to 2.1 pairs per 1000 km2 in 2000. Two control areas checked in 2000 had an decrease of the breeding density (from 8 to 7 breeding pairs and from 16 to 11) and decreased production rate (from 6.1 young from 1000 km2 in 1998 to 9.4 young from 1000km2 in 1999 and 5.8 young from 1000km2 in 2000). Estimate the population size of Sakers in Mongolia went up from 2823 pairs in 1998 to 2961 pairs in 1999 and down to 2220 pairs in 2000. The Sakers in Mongolia produced 6382 young in 1998, 9834 young in 1999 and 4450 in 2000. Following data of counts in 2002, about 6050 Sakers had already inhabited the all territory of Mongolia. And a total of 1000-1200 pairs were estimated to breed in Mongolia in 2003 (Fox et al., 2003). After 90-s the first legal and illegal groups of trappers were created in Mongolia. Legal groups of trappers received from the government the sanction to withdrawal sakers from the nature. Near 1000 Sakers were exported to Gulf States with legal permissions since 1993 to 2002, and the same number (or even probably more), was exported illegally. Only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait imported from Mongolia about 700 Sakers for that period. The permission to catch and export 300 Sakers at the price of 4600 $ for the bird was given out in 2002. The most part of falcons were female including northern migrants. Despite of a high share of caught migrating birds, the number of the Saker noticeably reduces especially in those regions where the press of catching is intensive. Thus the urgent measures need to protect and rational use the species. The following concern to such measures: Carry out counts and records of Saker nests in all administrative regions of the country and protect they; Prohibit the scattering of chemical poisons; Establish the system of struggle against illegal export; Erect artificial nests in the open territories; Establish a falcon center for breeding Sakers in captivity with their subsequent release in the nature in Mongolia.

The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) was a usual species in Kazakhstan (Korelov, 1962). However now it is included in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan and has the most threatened status. Saker Falcons are favorite birds of Arabian falconers and falcons were exported from Kazakhstan for a long time. But usually no more than several tens of birds were exported a year. The first legal groups of trappers were created in independent Kazakhstan republic after disintegration of the USSR in 1992, they received from the government permissions to catch sakers from the wild. Hundreds falcons had already been exported from Kazakhstan. Up to 1000 birds were exported from Kazakhstan every year at the middle of 1990-s (Sklyarenko, 1995). Legal groups caught birds mainly during autumn migrations in the areas of their concentrations which were being simultaneously and the main areas of their breeding. Those territories were the Zaysanskaya and Alakolskaya depressions, Syugatinskaya valley, the Western Balkhash Lake region and the Betpak-Dala desert. In spite of the fact that number sakers in that areas decreased every year and executive ministries were informed about it, quotas for catching increased year by year. Only Saudi Arabia had the permission for the catching of 25 falcons in 1995, but groups of trappers already from four countries with the permission on 165 sakers had caught falcons in Kazakhstan in 1999, and even more applications on catching of falcons had been submitted to the ministry which requested to the Institute of Zoology a substantiation on catching of 200 birds from the wild in 2000! Many illegal groups of trappers have appeared since 1992. Local criminal groups which organized catching of sakers and bought chicks harvested from nests from local people for a song had been already created till 1993. For instance, a female of saker caught a sack of flour in the Zaysanskaya depression in 1996-1997. But mass media with enviable persistence estimated a saker for the mythical sum of 50-70 thousands dollars. The agiotage around of trade in falcons mobilized local people to harvest falcons. Poachers have accumulated the significant experience last years and they know very much about saker biology and requirements of the falcon market. Only females are harvested from broods and males do not caught at nests. As a result of such selective approach balance of the sexual population structure has been disturbed, the portion of males is higher than females. A total of 400-450 pairs were estimated to breed in eastern regions earlier. This number decreased to 120-145 pairs for last 15 years. Only a nest from 8 monitored nests was active in the Betpak-Dala desert in 1999 (Levin, 2003). Number changes of saker populations in the southeast and the east of Kazakhstan are demonstrated in Fig.4. Only 22 (29,3 %) of 75 visited breeding territories were occupied in the all Eastern Kazakhstan. The principal cause of low breeding success of sakers in east regions is the continuation of poaching. The number of empty breeding territories increased in 4 times (comparing with previous year) during the breeding season in 2006. Another important reason of the saker number decreasing is falcon deaths from electrocution on overhead power lines with voltage 6-10 kV. Following S. V. Starikov's data (1996/1997) 68 sakers were killed in the Zaysan depression in 1990-93. Number of electrocuted birds is awful: 30 dead sakers were found during surveys of 95 km of power line on the northern side of the Zaysan Lake on 29-30 September 1993, 27 dead sakers per 400 km of power line in the southern side of the Zaysan Lake on 20-26 October 1993 (8.6 % of all killed raptors and 6.6 % of all killed birds). Another important reason of absence of breeding sakers in east regions is considered to be the depression of numbers of susliks (Spermophilus erythrogenys, S. undulatus), and great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) continuing more than 10 years. Now the number of susliks is stable or increases in many areas, but the number of sakers decreases persistently. According to the information from the Arabian countries demand for wild birds has sharply fallen last two years. The number of detentions of sakers on customs and police posts has decreased. But long-term monitoring of breeding territories of sakers in different regions of Kazakhstan shows the number ob breeding population slow and continuous decreasing. And the reason of that is the continuation with absence of any logics of catching of birds from the wild. The state program «Restoration of the Saker population in the southeast of Kazakhstan» has been carried out in 2007. 60 birds breed in the Sunkar facility center were released in the nature (Fig.8). Because that action has been widely advertised in press, there were the people wishing to catch these falcons in the area of release in September. The Game Service detained three times vehicles where pigeons with loops were found. The mentioned facts are evidences that persons busy in the trade in falcons in Kazakhstan are professionals. The ways of illegal export from Kazakhstan to the Gulf States exist. And blocking of such ways on the border is one of effective methods to struggle against the illegal trade in rare animals in our country and to stop the saker number falling. ; The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) was a usual species in Kazakhstan (Korelov, 1962). However now it is included in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan and has the most threatened status. Saker Falcons are favorite birds of Arabian falconers and falcons were exported from Kazakhstan for a long time. But usually no more than several tens of birds were exported a year. The first legal groups of trappers were created in independent Kazakhstan republic after disintegration of the USSR in 1992, they received from the government permissions to catch sakers from the wild. Hundreds falcons had already been exported from Kazakhstan. Up to 1000 birds were exported from Kazakhstan every year at the middle of 1990-s (Sklyarenko, 1995). Legal groups caught birds mainly during autumn migrations in the areas of their concentrations which were being simultaneously and the main areas of their breeding. Those territories were the Zaysanskaya and Alakolskaya depressions, Syugatinskaya valley, the Western Balkhash Lake region and the Betpak-Dala desert. In spite of the fact that number sakers in that areas decreased every year and executive ministries were informed about it, quotas for catching increased year by year. Only Saudi Arabia had the permission for the catching of 25 falcons in 1995, but groups of trappers already from four countries with the permission on 165 sakers had caught falcons in Kazakhstan in 1999, and even more applications on catching of falcons had been submitted to the ministry which requested to the Institute of Zoology a substantiation on catching of 200 birds from the wild in 2000! Many illegal groups of trappers have appeared since 1992. Local criminal groups which organized catching of sakers and bought chicks harvested from nests from local people for a song had been already created till 1993. For instance, a female of saker caught a sack of flour in the Zaysanskaya depression in 1996-1997. But mass media with enviable persistence estimated a saker for the mythical sum of 50-70 thousands dollars. The agiotage around of trade in falcons mobilized local people to harvest falcons. Poachers have accumulated the significant experience last years and they know very much about saker biology and requirements of the falcon market. Only females are harvested from broods and males do not caught at nests. As a result of such selective approach balance of the sexual population structure has been disturbed, the portion of males is higher than females. A total of 400-450 pairs were estimated to breed in eastern regions earlier. This number decreased to 120-145 pairs for last 15 years. Only a nest from 8 monitored nests was active in the Betpak-Dala desert in 1999 (Levin, 2003). Number changes of saker populations in the southeast and the east of Kazakhstan are demonstrated in Fig.4. Only 22 (29,3 %) of 75 visited breeding territories were occupied in the all Eastern Kazakhstan. The principal cause of low breeding success of sakers in east regions is the continuation of poaching. The number of empty breeding territories increased in 4 times (comparing with previous year) during the breeding season in 2006. Another important reason of the saker number decreasing is falcon deaths from electrocution on overhead power lines with voltage 6-10 kV. Following S. V. Starikov's data (1996/1997) 68 sakers were killed in the Zaysan depression in 1990-93. Number of electrocuted birds is awful: 30 dead sakers were found during surveys of 95 km of power line on the northern side of the Zaysan Lake on 29-30 September 1993, 27 dead sakers per 400 km of power line in the southern side of the Zaysan Lake on 20-26 October 1993 (8.6 % of all killed raptors and 6.6 % of all killed birds). Another important reason of absence of breeding sakers in east regions is considered to be the depression of numbers of susliks (Spermophilus erythrogenys, S. undulatus), and great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) continuing more than 10 years. Now the number of susliks is stable or increases in many areas, but the number of sakers decreases persistently. According to the information from the Arabian countries demand for wild birds has sharply fallen last two years. The number of detentions of sakers on customs and police posts has decreased. But long-term monitoring of breeding territories of sakers in different regions of Kazakhstan shows the number ob breeding population slow and continuous decreasing. And the reason of that is the continuation with absence of any logics of catching of birds from the wild. The state program «Restoration of the Saker population in the southeast of Kazakhstan» has been carried out in 2007. 60 birds breed in the Sunkar facility center were released in the nature (Fig.8). Because that action has been widely advertised in press, there were the people wishing to catch these falcons in the area of release in September. The Game Service detained three times vehicles where pigeons with loops were found. The mentioned facts are evidences that persons busy in the trade in falcons in Kazakhstan are professionals. The ways of illegal export from Kazakhstan to the Gulf States exist. And blocking of such ways on the border is one of effective methods to struggle against the illegal trade in rare animals in our country and to stop the saker number falling.

Introductions The breeding Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) population on the mountain ridges of eastern Kazakhstan has been monitored since 2000, The monitoring program has revealed an overall population decline over the nine years of study from an estimated 66 breeding pairs in 2000 to 22 in 2008 (75.8%). Methods Eastern Kazakhstan has several large and many small mountain ridges that provide a large area of suitable Saker Falcon nesting habitat. The Saker Falcon breeding population of eastern Kazakhstan was monitored in the Tarbagatai Mountains, including its southern foothills of Arkaly and Karabas Mountains, and in the Manrak Mountains, which are situated to the north of the Tarbagatai range. The study areas were chosen because relatively high Saker Falcon densities were previously recorded in these regions and human activity is curtailed in this border zone. Survey routes were covered by 4WD vehicle UAZ 452 over a period of three months from the beginning of April, when most clutches are laid, until the end of June, when chicks have fledged. Nest locations were recorded with a Garmin GPS unit and recorded in an electronic database which also included a description of the nest site. Nest locations were then plotted on computerized maps and satellite images. Nest contents were recorded wherever possible, though in recent years we have avoided disturbing sitting birds during incubation. The breeding population of the region was estimated from the survey data obtained from 92 territories that had evidence of occupation in at least one year from 2000-08. For logistic reasons, it was not possible to visit every territory each year and the number of territories checked ranged from 10 in 2000 to 76 in 2007. Territories were classified as occupied if: there was an active nest, one or more adults were seen in the territory or signs of recent occupation such as fresh prey remains and mutes were found. Breeding was confirmed within occupied territories if eggs or young were seen in the nest. In order to estimate the number of breeding pairs at territories that were not visited it was necessary to multiply the number of unvisited territories by the proportion of confirmed breeding attempts at checked territories. This estimate was then added to the number of confirmed breeders to produce an overall population estimate for the 92 territories in the survey area. Distribution and Number The first Saker survey in eastern Kazakhstan was made in 1997 by Mark Watson, a British biologist who worked in closely with zoologists from Kazakhstan (Watson, 1997). This was the first time that nests had been recorded in Dzhungarsky Alatau, Tarbagatai and the Manrak Mountains. Since 1999 the study area has been expanded to include a considerable area of Tarbagatai Mountains including its southern and northern foothills as well as the Saur ridge, Kalbinsky Altai Mountains, Altai Mountains (Kurchumsky and the Narymsky ridges). For the first time in 50 years the largest of eastern Kazakhstan's forests were explored with the aim of locating raptor nests. The study located 25 Saker Falcon nests and 49 nests of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), whose disused nests are the main source of nesting sites for Sakers (Karyakin et al., 2005; Levin et al., 2007). The foothills of the Kalba Mountains were surveyed in 2006 by a Kazakhstan-Russian team; three Saker Falcon breeding territories were recorded there (Smelansky et al., 2006). Before the 1960's the Saker was regarded as common, occupying almost all the mountain ridges and long cliffs of Kazakhstan (Korelov, 1962) and it is believed that this status remained the same up to the 1990's. Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the number of Saker Falcons in the wild began to decline sharply in parts of Kazakstan, primarily due to uncontrolled exploitation of the species for the Arabic falconry market with the greatest decline reported in the south-east of the country (Levin, 2001; 2003). Over nine years, from 2000-08 inclusive, a total of 92 Saker Falcon breeding territories were recorded in the eastern region of Kazakhstan. In Tarbagatai as well as other large mountain ridges, the density of Saker Falcon nests is low. Two attempts were made to find Saker nests in the montane zone of the Tarbagatai Mountains in 2006 and 2007 but no nests were found and only one Saker was seen in the area. Most breeding Sakers were located on the periphery of the main Tarbagatai Mountain range i.e., in the foothills. High breeding densities were recorded in the Arkaly and Karabas Mountains, located close to the Chinese border. A comparatively high density of nests was also observed in the Manrak Mountains, which are located to the north of the Tarbagatai Mountain range. Long-term monitoring of the Saker Falcon breeding population has allowed us to estimate the number of breeding pairs in our survey area over the period 2000-2008 (table 1). Our data indicates that over this 9-year period the breeding population has declined by 65% (fig. 4). In line with this decline the proportion of territories that are occupied by non-breeding birds has increased. Single males were found at over half the occupied territories where at least one Saker was observed but there was no evidence of breeding. Breeding Biology The nesting distribution of Sakers in the surveyed area of Eastern Kazakhstan revealed that the highest breeding densities are found in the foothills of the mountain ranges of the region, which is no doubt related to the availability of mammalian prey such as Great Gerbils (Rhomhomys opimus), Red-cheeked Sousliks (Spermophilus inlermedius) and Long-tailed Sousliks (Spermophilus undulatus), as well as the availability of suitable nesting sites. All Saker nests in Eastern Kazakhstan are located on open cliffs, under overhanging peaks and occasionally partly in niches. The main nest producers for the Saker Falcon in Eastern Kazakhstan are the Long-Legged and the Upland Buzzards (Buteo rufinus and B. hemilasius). Of 86 instances of Saker Falcon nesting, birds used nests of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in two occasions, the Steppe Eagle (A. nipalensis) two occasions and Raven (Corvus corax) also in two. One clutch was found in a nest of the Eastern Imperial Eagle. In all the other instances the Saker used Buzzard nests. In the mountains of Eastern Kazakhstan Sakers start egg-laying from the middle of March and most pairs have completed clutches by the end of April, with a peak period in the third ten-day period of March. The mean and modal clutch size of 31 clutches was 3.9 eggs (range 3 to 6 eggs). The mean and modal size of 156 broods was 3.7 and 4 chicks respectively (range 1 to 6 chicks). There was no decline in brood size at successful nests over the study period (fig. 8). The number of breeding pairs was highest in 2002, which coincided with a peak in the number of Red-cheeked Soushks across the region. Discussion There being no apparent change to the habitat and no perceptible reduction in food supply the breeding population has steadily declined over the study period and the proportion of non-breeding territory holders has increased over the same period. This current breeding population decline in Eastern Kazakhstan mirrors the decline of the breeding Saker population in Southern Kazakhstan over the last decade of the 20th Century, which coincided with the illegal trapping for the falconry trade. We do not know the cause (or causes) of the current decline in eastern Kazakhstan but it is unlikely to be as a result of local factors in the breeding area. The breeding area is afforded some protection from human interference because of the restrictions on human access due to its close proximity to the Chinese border. Consequently, nest disturbance and trapping of breeding adults in the region is relatively low. However, after the breeding season young Sakers and most of the adult birds move from the Tarbagatai foothills and, around the same time, Sakers arrive in the flat, southern region of the Zaysan Valley where there are the colonies of Yellow Lemming (Lagurus luteus), and in the Balkhash-Alakol depression where there are high densities of Great Gerbil. Falcon trappers from Syria and other countries (including Kazakhstan) operate in these regions and catch Sakers from late June to December. Unfortunately, due to its illegality there is no data on the number, age profile or natal origin of the Sakers trapped in these regions, so it is not possible to gauge its impact on the population of eastern Kazakhstan, but with a rapidly declining regional breeding population the illegal trapping and trade of Sakers is certainly not helping the species. Whilst excessive illegal trapping of birds outside the breeding/natal area is a possible (if not probable) cause of the regional decline of Sakers in eastern Kazakhstan, there are other potential factors that could be implicated such as a decline in food availability in the breeding and/or wintering areas and increased mortality through electrocution on power lines. Conclusion In 2007 a reintroduction programme was initiated by the Government in response to the severe decline in the breeding population of southeast Kazakhstan. Under the framework of this program 60 Sakers (30 female, 30 male) were taken on July from «Sunkar» Falcon Facility, Almaty to the Sugary Valley. In 2008 another 50 birds were released and this programme is planned to continue for several years. ; Introductions The breeding Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) population on the mountain ridges of eastern Kazakhstan has been monitored since 2000, The monitoring program has revealed an overall population decline over the nine years of study from an estimated 66 breeding pairs in 2000 to 22 in 2008 (75.8%). Methods Eastern Kazakhstan has several large and many small mountain ridges that provide a large area of suitable Saker Falcon nesting habitat. The Saker Falcon breeding population of eastern Kazakhstan was monitored in the Tarbagatai Mountains, including its southern foothills of Arkaly and Karabas Mountains, and in the Manrak Mountains, which are situated to the north of the Tarbagatai range. The study areas were chosen because relatively high Saker Falcon densities were previously recorded in these regions and human activity is curtailed in this border zone. Survey routes were covered by 4WD vehicle UAZ 452 over a period of three months from the beginning of April, when most clutches are laid, until the end of June, when chicks have fledged. Nest locations were recorded with a Garmin GPS unit and recorded in an electronic database which also included a description of the nest site. Nest locations were then plotted on computerized maps and satellite images. Nest contents were recorded wherever possible, though in recent years we have avoided disturbing sitting birds during incubation. The breeding population of the region was estimated from the survey data obtained from 92 territories that had evidence of occupation in at least one year from 2000-08. For logistic reasons, it was not possible to visit every territory each year and the number of territories checked ranged from 10 in 2000 to 76 in 2007. Territories were classified as occupied if: there was an active nest, one or more adults were seen in the territory or signs of recent occupation such as fresh prey remains and mutes were found. Breeding was confirmed within occupied territories if eggs or young were seen in the nest. In order to estimate the number of breeding pairs at territories that were not visited it was necessary to multiply the number of unvisited territories by the proportion of confirmed breeding attempts at checked territories. This estimate was then added to the number of confirmed breeders to produce an overall population estimate for the 92 territories in the survey area. Distribution and Number The first Saker survey in eastern Kazakhstan was made in 1997 by Mark Watson, a British biologist who worked in closely with zoologists from Kazakhstan (Watson, 1997). This was the first time that nests had been recorded in Dzhungarsky Alatau, Tarbagatai and the Manrak Mountains. Since 1999 the study area has been expanded to include a considerable area of Tarbagatai Mountains including its southern and northern foothills as well as the Saur ridge, Kalbinsky Altai Mountains, Altai Mountains (Kurchumsky and the Narymsky ridges). For the first time in 50 years the largest of eastern Kazakhstan's forests were explored with the aim of locating raptor nests. The study located 25 Saker Falcon nests and 49 nests of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), whose disused nests are the main source of nesting sites for Sakers (Karyakin et al., 2005; Levin et al., 2007). The foothills of the Kalba Mountains were surveyed in 2006 by a Kazakhstan-Russian team; three Saker Falcon breeding territories were recorded there (Smelansky et al., 2006). Before the 1960's the Saker was regarded as common, occupying almost all the mountain ridges and long cliffs of Kazakhstan (Korelov, 1962) and it is believed that this status remained the same up to the 1990's. Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the number of Saker Falcons in the wild began to decline sharply in parts of Kazakstan, primarily due to uncontrolled exploitation of the species for the Arabic falconry market with the greatest decline reported in the south-east of the country (Levin, 2001; 2003). Over nine years, from 2000-08 inclusive, a total of 92 Saker Falcon breeding territories were recorded in the eastern region of Kazakhstan. In Tarbagatai as well as other large mountain ridges, the density of Saker Falcon nests is low. Two attempts were made to find Saker nests in the montane zone of the Tarbagatai Mountains in 2006 and 2007 but no nests were found and only one Saker was seen in the area. Most breeding Sakers were located on the periphery of the main Tarbagatai Mountain range i.e., in the foothills. High breeding densities were recorded in the Arkaly and Karabas Mountains, located close to the Chinese border. A comparatively high density of nests was also observed in the Manrak Mountains, which are located to the north of the Tarbagatai Mountain range. Long-term monitoring of the Saker Falcon breeding population has allowed us to estimate the number of breeding pairs in our survey area over the period 2000-2008 (table 1). Our data indicates that over this 9-year period the breeding population has declined by 65% (fig. 4). In line with this decline the proportion of territories that are occupied by non-breeding birds has increased. Single males were found at over half the occupied territories where at least one Saker was observed but there was no evidence of breeding. Breeding Biology The nesting distribution of Sakers in the surveyed area of Eastern Kazakhstan revealed that the highest breeding densities are found in the foothills of the mountain ranges of the region, which is no doubt related to the availability of mammalian prey such as Great Gerbils (Rhomhomys opimus), Red-cheeked Sousliks (Spermophilus inlermedius) and Long-tailed Sousliks (Spermophilus undulatus), as well as the availability of suitable nesting sites. All Saker nests in Eastern Kazakhstan are located on open cliffs, under overhanging peaks and occasionally partly in niches. The main nest producers for the Saker Falcon in Eastern Kazakhstan are the Long-Legged and the Upland Buzzards (Buteo rufinus and B. hemilasius). Of 86 instances of Saker Falcon nesting, birds used nests of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in two occasions, the Steppe Eagle (A. nipalensis) two occasions and Raven (Corvus corax) also in two. One clutch was found in a nest of the Eastern Imperial Eagle. In all the other instances the Saker used Buzzard nests. In the mountains of Eastern Kazakhstan Sakers start egg-laying from the middle of March and most pairs have completed clutches by the end of April, with a peak period in the third ten-day period of March. The mean and modal clutch size of 31 clutches was 3.9 eggs (range 3 to 6 eggs). The mean and modal size of 156 broods was 3.7 and 4 chicks respectively (range 1 to 6 chicks). There was no decline in brood size at successful nests over the study period (fig. 8). The number of breeding pairs was highest in 2002, which coincided with a peak in the number of Red-cheeked Soushks across the region. Discussion There being no apparent change to the habitat and no perceptible reduction in food supply the breeding population has steadily declined over the study period and the proportion of non-breeding territory holders has increased over the same period. This current breeding population decline in Eastern Kazakhstan mirrors the decline of the breeding Saker population in Southern Kazakhstan over the last decade of the 20th Century, which coincided with the illegal trapping for the falconry trade. We do not know the cause (or causes) of the current decline in eastern Kazakhstan but it is unlikely to be as a result of local factors in the breeding area. The breeding area is afforded some protection from human interference because of the restrictions on human access due to its close proximity to the Chinese border. Consequently, nest disturbance and trapping of breeding adults in the region is relatively low. However, after the breeding season young Sakers and most of the adult birds move from the Tarbagatai foothills and, around the same time, Sakers arrive in the flat, southern region of the Zaysan Valley where there are the colonies of Yellow Lemming (Lagurus luteus), and in the Balkhash-Alakol depression where there are high densities of Great Gerbil. Falcon trappers from Syria and other countries (including Kazakhstan) operate in these regions and catch Sakers from late June to December. Unfortunately, due to its illegality there is no data on the number, age profile or natal origin of the Sakers trapped in these regions, so it is not possible to gauge its impact on the population of eastern Kazakhstan, but with a rapidly declining regional breeding population the illegal trapping and trade of Sakers is certainly not helping the species. Whilst excessive illegal trapping of birds outside the breeding/natal area is a possible (if not probable) cause of the regional decline of Sakers in eastern Kazakhstan, there are other potential factors that could be implicated such as a decline in food availability in the breeding and/or wintering areas and increased mortality through electrocution on power lines. Conclusion In 2007 a reintroduction programme was initiated by the Government in response to the severe decline in the breeding population of southeast Kazakhstan. Under the framework of this program 60 Sakers (30 female, 30 male) were taken on July from «Sunkar» Falcon Facility, Almaty to the Sugary Valley. In 2008 another 50 birds were released and this programme is planned to continue for several years.

Data on modern status of the White Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) population in the Samara district were collected in 1995-2007. Following satellite images Landsat ETM+ the total length of water reservoir and the Volga river banks in Samara district is 1018.1 km, the total length of forested banks 817.4 km (80.29%). Authors had surveyed 817 km of banks, 515.3 km of which were forested, to the end of 2007. Now 85 breeding territories of the White Tailed Eagle are known in the Samara district, 82 from which locates in the Volga river valley and water reservoirs of the Volga river (fig. 1). Nests were found in 42 breeding territories (49.4%). The total number of found nests was 57 including old nests. Nests was not found in 12 territories (14.1%), however broods were registered, and pairs of birds (mainly birds uttering mating-calls in spring) were observed in 21 territories (24.7%), and single birds with alarm behavior during breeding season in 10 territories (11.8%). At all we registered 52 breeding events, and breeding were noted during several years in the territory of the fish farm Suskan and Samara Luka. The average distance between nests and centers of neighbor breeding territories is 4.02±2.39 km (n=80; range 1-13 km, Ех=2,55) (Table 1).Usually a pair of eagles build their own nests at the distance 3-5 km from another (fig. 2). The density of eagles in the Volga river valley including data of counts in islands is 1 pair/10 km of banks or 1.59 pairs/10 km of forested part of banks. A total of 110-140 pairs of the White Tailed Eagle are estimated to breed in the Samara district. The number of White-Tailed Eagles in the Samara district increased in 1.5 times for last 5 years. We observed 169 adults during counts in breeding season (157 birds in breeding territories) and 67 subadults (without juveniles). The number of subadults was 28.39% of the total number of registered birds, that actually is the third part of population. The main region of winter concentration of eagles is the territory 400 км2 in area in vicinity of Zhigulevsk. We registered from 30 to 110 birds in different years. A half of registered pairs of eagles nests at the distance of 100 m from the water, 34.9% at the distance of 100-500 m from the water and 11.6% 500 -1000 m from the water (fig. 3). Hardly more than a half of breeding territories of eagles was found on slopes of water reservoirs (52%) and hardly less than a half (46%) in flood-lands (fig. 4). Now 59% of known nests in the district (n=57) located on poplars and 35% on pines (fig. 5). The most part of eagle nests located in the forks of trunks in the upper part of the trees (72%); on the tops and in the forks of large 14% of nests for each (fig. 6), and all nests with such locations were built on pines. The average brood size is 1.69±0.62 chicks (n=26; range 1 3). Comparing with data of 1930-40-s the number of eagles in the Samara district has increased in 4 times. Now the main threats for eagles are poaching and lead poisoning. A half of White-Tailed Eagle population in the Samara district inhabits IBAs, however a half of IBAs don't have any legislative protection. ; Data on modern status of the White Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) population in the Samara district were collected in 1995-2007. Following satellite images Landsat ETM+ the total length of water reservoir and the Volga river banks in Samara district is 1018.1 km, the total length of forested banks 817.4 km (80.29%). Authors had surveyed 817 km of banks, 515.3 km of which were forested, to the end of 2007. Now 85 breeding territories of the White Tailed Eagle are known in the Samara district, 82 from which locates in the Volga river valley and water reservoirs of the Volga river (fig. 1). Nests were found in 42 breeding territories (49.4%). The total number of found nests was 57 including old nests. Nests was not found in 12 territories (14.1%), however broods were registered, and pairs of birds (mainly birds uttering mating-calls in spring) were observed in 21 territories (24.7%), and single birds with alarm behavior during breeding season in 10 territories (11.8%). At all we registered 52 breeding events, and breeding were noted during several years in the territory of the fish farm Suskan and Samara Luka. The average distance between nests and centers of neighbor breeding territories is 4.02±2.39 km (n=80; range 1-13 km, Ех=2,55) (Table 1).Usually a pair of eagles build their own nests at the distance 3-5 km from another (fig. 2). The density of eagles in the Volga river valley including data of counts in islands is 1 pair/10 km of banks or 1.59 pairs/10 km of forested part of banks. A total of 110-140 pairs of the White Tailed Eagle are estimated to breed in the Samara district. The number of White-Tailed Eagles in the Samara district increased in 1.5 times for last 5 years. We observed 169 adults during counts in breeding season (157 birds in breeding territories) and 67 subadults (without juveniles). The number of subadults was 28.39% of the total number of registered birds, that actually is the third part of population. The main region of winter concentration of eagles is the territory 400 км2 in area in vicinity of Zhigulevsk. We registered from 30 to 110 birds in different years. A half of registered pairs of eagles nests at the distance of 100 m from the water, 34.9% at the distance of 100-500 m from the water and 11.6% 500 -1000 m from the water (fig. 3). Hardly more than a half of breeding territories of eagles was found on slopes of water reservoirs (52%) and hardly less than a half (46%) in flood-lands (fig. 4). Now 59% of known nests in the district (n=57) located on poplars and 35% on pines (fig. 5). The most part of eagle nests located in the forks of trunks in the upper part of the trees (72%); on the tops and in the forks of large 14% of nests for each (fig. 6), and all nests with such locations were built on pines. The average brood size is 1.69±0.62 chicks (n=26; range 1 3). Comparing with data of 1930-40-s the number of eagles in the Samara district has increased in 4 times. Now the main threats for eagles are poaching and lead poisoning. A half of White-Tailed Eagle population in the Samara district inhabits IBAs, however a half of IBAs don't have any legislative protection.

Исследования выполнены на территории Республики Калмыкия осенью 2011 г. В ходе осмотра 254,5 км воздушных линий электропередачи ВЛ 6-10 кВ были обнаружены останки 543 птиц, принадлежащих к 31 виду. Из них 477 птиц погибли в результате поражения электрическим током ВЛ 6-10 кВ. На базе этих материалов сделана оценка общего объёма гибели птиц на ВЛ 6-10 кВ в Калмыкии в течение одного календарного года. Ожидается, что ежегодно от удара электрическим током здесь погибает более 17 000 птиц более 30 видов. Из них большую часть составляют пернатые хищники 74,8%, среди которых доминирует степной орёл (Aquila nipalensis) 33,3%, курганник (Buteo rufinus) 10,5%, обыкновенная пустельга (Falco tinnunculus) 5,5%), обыкновенный канюк (Buteo buteo) 4,1%, чёрный коршун (Milvus migrans) 3,9%. Общее число ежегодно погибающих в регионе степных орлов оценивается в 3420 особей, курганника 1720 особей. Рассчитан общий размер вреда, в соответствии с действующим законодательством РФ. Ежегодно его сумма может составлять около 290 млн. рублей. Территория Республики Калмыкия играет исключительно важную роль для размножения, миграций и зимовок хищных птиц. В связи с этим необходима срочная реализации специальной программы, направленной на защиту пернатых хищников от поражения электрическим током ВЛ 6-10 кВ. ; Studies performed on the territory of the Republic of Kalmykia in the autumn of 2011. During the inspection of 254.5 km of overhead power lines (PL) 6-10 kV were found 543 dead birds of 31 species. Of these, 477 birds were electrocuted on PL 6-10 kV. On the basis of these data we estimated the total bird mortality at PL 6-10 kV in Kalmykia during a year. More than 17,000 birds of more than 30 species are expected being killed from electrocution every year. Most of them are raptors 74.8%. There is mostly the Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis (33.3%), Long-Legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (10.5%), Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (5.5%), Common Buzzard Buteo buteo (4.1%) and Black Kite Milvus migrans (3.9%). The total number of Steppe Eagles killed in the region every year is estimated at 3420 individuals, Long-Legged Buzzards 1720 individuals. The total amount of damage in accordance with current legislation was calculated. Annually it may be about 290 million rubles. The territory of the Kalmykia Republic is very important area for breeding, migratory and wintering birds of prey. In this regard a special program aimed at protection of birds of prey from electrocution on PL 6-10 kV should be immediately implemented.

В статье приводится обзор состояния редких видов пернатых хищников, гнездящихся в ленточных борах Алтайского края. Показаны негативные тренды для ряда видов, в частности беркута (Aquila chrysaetos) и филина (Bubo bubo), по причине постоянно ведущихся рубок. На основании результатов многолетнего мониторинга хищных птиц разработаны критерии выделения особо защитных участков леса и зон особой охраны в боровых заказниках Алтайского края. По результатам исследований 2015 г. спроектированы зоны особой охраны для Камсалинского, Мамонтовского и Корниловсокго заказников. Во всех вышеперечисленных заказниках, а также в Завьяловском заказнике проведены инспекции, выявившие многочисленные нарушения природоохранного законодательства. По факту нарушений инициированы проверки соблюдения законодательства при эксплуатации лесов. ; This article provides the review of the condition of rare raptors' species, nesting in strip-shaped pine forests of the Altai Kray. It also reflects negative trends for some species including the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) due to constant felling. Criteria of selection of special protection zones of forests and zones of special protection in nature reserves in the pine forests of the Altai Kray were designed according to the results of the long-term monitoring of raptors. According to researches of 2015 zones of special protection were designed for Kamsalinsky, Mamontovsky and Kornilovsky nature reserves. Inspections conducted in all mentioned nature reserves and in Zavyalovsky nature reserve showed numerous violations of environmental legislation. Thereafter checks on compliance with the legislation in forest exploitation were initiated.

Статья подготовлена по данным анализа ситуации с нелегальным ловом и контрабандой соколов (кречетFalco rusticolus, балобан F. cherrug и сапсан F. peregrinus) в странах СНГ в 2006-2015 гг., сделанного в рамках программы «Борьба с браконьерством и контрабандой» Российской сети изучения и охраны пернатых хищников. В сравнении с результатами предыдущего исследования 1996-2005 гг.: общее число случаев задержаний ловцов соколов, курьеров и контрабандистов увеличилось в 1,6 раз, 1,4 раза возросло количество изъятых птиц, с 538 в 1996-2005 гг. до 737 в 2006-2015 гг., в т.ч. число кречетов возросло в 2,6 раза, с 142 до 365, балобанов в 1,1 раза, с 260 до 284, сапсана в 3,4 раза, с 13 до 44. Доля кречета среди изъятых птиц возросла в 1,5 раза, сапсана в 2 раза, а доля балобана упала в 1,5 раза. Число ежегодных случаев задержаний возросло с 2-6 в 2006-2008 гг. до 14-16 случаев в 2014-2015 гг. предположительно по причине введения за эти нарушения уголовной ответственности в 2013 г. Наиболее результативно происходят задержания в Дальнем Востоке (Камчатке и Чукотке), второй регион лова, где заметно большее число случаев задержаний Алтае-Саянский. Максимальное число задержаний были произведены с участием сотрудников МВД (51); почти в два раза меньше задержаний произведены с участием ФСБ (23), в основном, на Дальнем Востоке; в 20 случаях участвовали таможенные органы; в 11 пограничники. Региональные органы охраны природы принимали участие в задержании всего 12 раз, в трёх случаях в задержаниях участвовал Росприроднадзор. В 75 случаях из 100 было задержано 155 человек, в т.ч. 51 местный житель, 13 жителей из других регионов той же страны, 13 граждан иностранного происхождения и 65 иностранцев. Максимальное число иностранцев задержано в Сибири 43 из 6 стран, они составляют 75,4% от общего числа задержанных; 75% иностранцев граждане Сирии. Вывоз соколов из России идёт через международные аэропорты Европейской части РФ, а также через Украину и Казахстан. В странах СНГ идёт варварское разграбление ресурса крупных соколов, в первую очередь, кречета и балобана, заказанное и оплачиваемое арабскими сокольниками. Существующий спрос на соколов в арабских странах на сегодняшний день в десятки раз превышает потенциал гнездовых популяций. ; This article was prepared according on the analysis of the situation with the poaching and smuggling of falcons (Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus, Saker Falcon F. cherrug and Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus) in CIS countries in 2006-2015. It is carried out within the program "Struggle against poaching and smuggling" of the Russian Raptor Research and Conservation Network. The total number of cases of "falcon detentions" in the CIS has 1.6 times increased for 10 years. The number of seized birds has 1.4 times increase from 538 in 1996-2005 to 737 in 2006-2015, including the number of Gyrfalcons has increased by 2.6 times (from 142 to 365), Saker Falcon 1.1 times (from 260 to 284), Peregrine Falcon 3.4 times (from 13 to 44). The rate of Gyrfalcon among seized birds has increased by 1.5 times, Peregrine Falcon 2 times, and the rate of Saker Falcon has decreased by 1.5 times. The number of annual cases of "falcon detentions" has increased from 2-6 in 2006-2008 to 14-16 cases in 2014-2015, on an annual basis their dynamics is correlated with the changes in the legislation. The most effective detentions are in the Far East (Kamchatka and Chukotka), the second region of catching, where there are significantly more cases of detentions, is Altai-Sayan. The maximum number of detentions were made with the participation of MIA members (51); nearly half of the detentions were produced with FSS (23); 20 cases involved customs authorities; 11 cases border guards. Regional bodies of Environmental Protection participated in arrest only 12 times, Rosprirodnadzor took part in three detentions. In 75 cases of 100 there were detained 155 people, including 51 locals, 13 residents from other regions of the same country, 13 foreign-born citizens and 65 foreigners. The maximum number of foreigners was detained in Siberia 43 from 6 countries, they account for 75.4% of the total number of detainees, with 75% of foreigners citizens of Syria. The export of falcons from Russia goes through the international airports of the European part of Russia and through Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Barbarous looting pillage of resources of large falcons in CIS countries, first of all, Gyrfalcon and Saker Falcon, ordered and paid by Arabian falconers. Today the existing need in falcons is ten times higher than the potential of nesting populations.

Круглый стол «Орлы в электросетевой среде: проблемы выживания и пути их решения» проведён 6 апреля 2016 г. в Лектории Русского географического общества (г. Москва). Постановлением Правительства РК № 316 от 16 сентября 2016 г.3 создан государственный природный заказник регионального значения «Татал-Барунский». VII Международная конференция по соколообразным и совам Северной Евразии «Хищные птицы Северной Евразии: проблемы и адаптации в современных условиях» прошла 19-24 сентября 2016 г. в городе Сочи (Россия) на базе Сочинского национального парка. В Национальном парке Монфрагу (Испания) 25-29 октября 2016 года прошёл симпозиум, очень важный для сохранения популяций падальщиков Европы, Центральной Азии и Ближнего Востока. A workshop devoted to the conservation of vultures in Europe, Central Asia and Middle East was held in the Monfrague Biosphere reserve (Spain) on 25-29 October, 2016. 7-я Международная конференция по сохранению птиц, организованная Венгерской национальной сетевой компанией MAVIR, в сотрудничестве с Обществом охраны птиц Венгрии (MME/Birdlife) и Институтом Германа Отто, прошла в Венгрии 7-8 ноября 2016 г. 10-й симпозиум Азиатской сети изучения и охраны пернатых хищников будет проходить 18-22 октября 2017 года в г. Давао, Филиппины.Workshop "Eagles and power lines: problems of survival and ways of their solution" was held in the Lecture hall of the Russian Geographical Society on 6 April 2016 (Moscow). The State Nature Reserve of regional value "Tatal-Baransky" was established by the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia: regulation No. 316 of September 16, 20163. VII International Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls of Northern Eurasia "Birds of Prey in the Northern Eurasia: Problems and adaptations in current environment" was held in Sochi, Russia, on the basis of Sochi National Park in September 19-24, 2016. MAVIR (the Hungarian Transmission System Operator Company Ltd.), in collaboration with MME/Birdlife and the Herman Otto Institute, organized the VII International Bird Conservation Conference on 7-8 November 2016. The 10th Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network Symposium will be held on 18-22 October 2017 at Ateneo de Davao University, Roxas St., Davao City, Philippines.

В статье раскрыта особенность сюжетов и изобразительных орнаментальных мотивов вышивки в одежде и предметах бытового убранства XVIII века характерной для Северо-Западного региона России. Семиотический статус русской одежды и предметов бытового убранства с декоративным украшением вышивкой с изобразительными орнаментальными мотивами как группы функционально взаимосвязанных предметов на протяжении тысячелетий продолжал оставаться очень высоким, обладая как утилитарной, так и знаковой прагматике. Несмотря на общественноисторические процессы, смену внешней формы костюма, символика орнаментов вышивки остаётся неизменной и продолжает существовать до ХХ столетия. В связи с политическими событиями по сюжетам и изобразительным мотивам в русской народной вышивке прослеживается связь с расселением новгородцев в XV веке. Это путь от Великого Новгорода до Архангельска и путь от Великого Новгорода до Вологды, где новгородцы оседали, сохраняя свою культуру. Доказано, что прослеживается связь между зооморфными подвесками-амулетами женских украшений Х века и сюжетными вышивками с изобразительными орнаментальными мотивами Северо-Западного региона России. Народ свято соблюдал законы отцов и дедов. В вышивках от поколения к поколению изображались образы древней мифологии. Наиболее распространёнными образами в русской северной вышивке были богиня Макошь, рожаницы, птицы, кони, лоси, олени, а также хищные звери, растения, изображенные в сюжетных композициях. К зооморфным мотивам относятся также изображения змеев-драконов, олицетворяющих молнию, часто встречающихся в русских народных сказках. Огненный дракон считался покровителем жилья и огня. Отношение к огню в народе было особое: его называли «батюшка ты, Царь-огонь», почитать его считалось всё равно как Бога. Одной из основных ролей в вышивке отводится технической стороне. Счетные швы в русской вышивке не только воссоздают образ, но и выражают его сущность ; The article discloses a feature of graphic ornamental motives of embroidery in clothing and household decoration, typical for the North-West region of Russia in the XVIII century. The semiotic status of the Russian clothing and household decorations with decorative ornaments embroidery with figurative ornamental motives as a group of functionally related items have remained very high, having both utilitarian and sign pragmatics for millennia. Despite the socio-historical processes, changing the external shape of the suit, the symbolism of embroidery patterns remained unchanged and continued to exist until the twentieth century. In connection with the political events, readier subjects and fine motives can be traced in the Russian folk embroidery due to the resettlement of Novgorod in the XV century. This is the way from Novgorod to Arkhangelsk and the path from Veliky Novgorod to Vologda where Novgorod settled, keeping their culture. It is proved, that there is a correlation between the zoomorphic pendants, amulets female ornaments of the tenth century and plot embroidered with iconic ornamental motives of the North-West region of Russia. People piously observed the laws of their fathers and grandfathers. The embroidery from generation to generation has been portraying images of ancient mythology. The most common images in the northern Russian embroidery were the goddess of Mokos, Rozhanitsy, birds, horses, moose, deer, and wild animals and plants, depicted in subject compositions. The zoomorphic motives are also the images of flying dragons, symbolizing lightning, they are often found in Russian folk tales. Fire Dragon was considered the protector of property and fire. The people's attitude to fire was special: it was called "You sir, the King-fire", and it was regards' a god. One of the main roles in the embroidery is given to the technical side. Counted Russian embroidery stitches do not only recreate the image, but also express its essence