Life for Falcons

About the project

The project ‘Securing the recovery of the endangered Saker Falcon in Bulgaria and Southern Romania’ is dedicated to the restoration and conservation of the endangered species Falco Cherrug in 28 Natura 2000 areas.
Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds is the coordinating beneficiary of the project in partnership with Green Balkans, Romanian Ornithological Society, Union of Hunters and Anglers in Bulgaria, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian at Academy of Sciences, The Habitat Foundation, and Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.
The project Securing the recovery of the endangered Saker Falcon in Bulgaria and Southern Romania (LIFE20 NAT/BG/001162) is of 5 years duration and has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union.

Our news

Saker Falcon one of the contenders for Bird of the Year in Romania

Nov. 20, 2023

BSPB and Green Balkans started installing the artificial nests for the Saker Falcons

Nov. 17, 2023

International Saker Falcon Conference was held in Stara Zagora from 12 till 15th of October

Oct. 17, 2023

Specialized Course for investigating wildlife crimes was held in Stara Zagora

Oct. 13, 2023

Life for Falcons project celebrates the World Migratory Bird Day on 14th of October in Sofia

Oct. 10, 2023

Green Balkans’ team of the Life for Falcons project took part in Wildlife Fest 2023

Sep. 29, 2023

The "Life for Falcons" project team visited a festival in Romania

Sep. 20, 2023

The new generation of Saker Falcons fledged in Romania

Sep. 07, 2023

The Saker Falcon

The Saker falcon is a large powerful falcon, slightly bigger in size in comparison with the Peregrine falcon. The body length is between 47-55 cm, the wingspan is 105-129 cm; the tail length is 16-26 cm; weight 730-1150g. Sexes have similar plumage but females are ca. 15% larger and 40% heavier than males.
The plumage is brown above and streaked below with a paler head and whitish supercilia (eyebrow). It has a relatively small head on broad-chested, though long and otherwise slender body with long wings and long tail. In flight the silhouette is similar to the Peregrine but is with rather broad wings with blunt tips.

Small mammals

The conservation of the Saker Falcon will rely on multi-sided holistic approach in which breeding and reintroducing small mammals, such as the European Souslik and Romanian Hamster which are key prey species for the falcon, has an important part.