The Eighth Consecutive Edition of the Saker Falcon Festival Took Place in the Village of Malko Kadievo, Stara Zagora Region

Pictures: Green Balkans

This past weekend marked the eighth edition of the Saker Falcon Festival, an event that combines art, folklore, and nature conservation. Traditionally, the festival is held at the end of the active season — in other words, when the last young Saker Falcon released by the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre leaves the area of the adaptation aviary where it spent the final weeks before flying freely into the wild. 

The event brought together local residents and guests of the village, and the Governor of Stara Zagora, Dr. Nedelcho Marinov, personally greeted the participants and organizers. Volunteers from the “Barbatus” Student Ecological Club at Trakia University actively participated in organizing and running the festival.

The day was filled with songs, dances, and merriment, while the Green Balkans team shared insights about the species and the organization’s efforts to reintroduce and support the survival of its fragile population in Bulgaria’s nature.
For children, the team of the “Life for the Falcon” project by Green Balkans had prepared educational games focused on the species — and, of course, prizes. 

During the event, which is part of the project, several kestrels hatched at the Green Balkans Rescue Centre were released into the skies above the village. They were set free by the youngest festival participants. As tradition dictates, the festival concluded with a festive folklore performance — a gift for all attendees.