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A female Saker falcon, part of one of the only three known pairs of this globally endangered species breeding in the wild in Bulgaria, was found poisoned in the Plovdiv region.
The team from Green Balkans, part of the "Life for Falcons" project, received this alarming information thanks to the satellite transmitter attached to the bird's back. When they conducted a field check, experts discovered the falcon’s lifeless body in a classic poisoning-induced agonizing posture. In its talons and crop, they found pink-stained pigeon feathers — clear evidence that a poisoned pigeon had been used as bait.
The falcon's body was immediately transported to the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Center, where veterinary doctors performed a thorough pathological analysis. The autopsy results unequivocally confirmed poisoning, and subsequent laboratory tests revealed that the poison was a type of pesticide commonly used in agriculture.
It is important to remind that the use of poisoned bait is illegal and punishable under both the Biodiversity Act and the Criminal Code of the Republic of Bulgaria. Such practices not only devastate rare and endangered species globally but also pose a danger to domestic animals and human health.
Sadly, the use of live pigeons as poisoned bait — driven by conflicts between pigeon breeders and birds of prey — remains a common, harmful practice in Bulgaria and neighboring countries. Previously, another globally endangered species, the Eastern Imperial Eagle, fell victim to poisoned bait set by pigeon breeders near Perushtitsa. Recently, the problem escalated in Serbia, prompting discussions about banning pigeon racing altogether.
However, in Bulgaria, there is hope that such extreme measures will not be necessary. Most pigeon breeders in the country are responsible citizens and nature enthusiasts. Recognizing this, the Life for Falcons project team has been successfully collaborating with significant parts of the pigeon-breeding community — including the Bulgarian Federation of High-Flying and Long-distance Pigeon Breeders, the Bulgarian National Tippler Club, the Bulgarian Association of Sporting Pigeon Breedeers, and the Bulgarian Federation of Sporting Pigeons — to find effective and legal methods to protect racing pigeons from attacks by birds of prey.
These criminal acts not only tarnish the reputation of the pigeon-breeding community but also — especially with the use of poisoned bait — put human lives at risk. The project team firmly believes that the development of pigeon racing and the protection of Bulgaria's wildlife can go hand in hand. Sustainable solutions to mitigate the damage caused by birds of prey to pigeon breeders can be achieved through joint efforts from all stakeholders.
The poisoned female Saker Falcon bore a ring with the code 1A and was hatched at the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Center as part of the organization's program to reintroduce the species to Bulgaria. She was one of only six breeding Saker Falcons in the country’s wild population. Released in 2023, she formed a pair and successfully raised offspring just the following year.
Since 2021, the Life for Falcons project — in partnership with various Bulgarian and international organizations, including the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds and Green Balkans — has been actively fighting against the illegal use of poisoned bait. The project has organized numerous training sessions with international experts for representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Prosecutor's Office, Regional Inspectorates for Environment and Water (RIEW), and other institutions to enhance their capacity to combat wildlife poisoning and prevent such crimes. In 2021, the Ministry of Environment and Water adopted the National Action Plan for Combating the Illegal Use of Poisons in the Wild.
The Plovdiv RIEW and the Environmental and Wildlife Crimes Unit of the Economic Police Department under the National Police General Directorate have been notified of the incident, and an investigation is already underway.
The Life for Falcons project team is ready to assist authorities in their investigation to ensure that the perpetrator of this serious crime against Bulgaria’s nature is found and punished.
Photos: Green Balkans