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USGS · 5223382

Remarkable saker falcon ( Falco cherrug ) breeding records for Mongolia

David H. Ellis·Merlin H. Ellis·Pu Tsengeg
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Abstract

During 1994-95 surveys, we located over 80 Saker Falcon ( Falco cherrug ) breeding sites in Mongolia. Over half of the sites had features that were in some way remarkable or previously undescribed in the scientific literature. Ten were on utility poles, two on bridges, three on abandoned buildings and one was on a truck tire on a pole. Seven sites were very near buzzard nests and two more were in buzzard nests that were used the same season. Five sites were on cliff tops accessible by walking. Four were on very short cliffs, two were on broken/sloping cliffs and one was at the base of a cliff. Five were on the tops of stone pillars. Six were in very short elm trees. Nest composition was also sometimes remarkable: one was a suspended uric acid (excrement) platform without underlying support, three were trash nests and two were composed largely of bones.

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David H. Ellis, Merlin H. Ellis, Pu Tsengeg. 1997. Remarkable saker falcon ( Falco cherrug ) breeding records for Mongolia. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/5223382

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