Article

Svetlana A. Mechnikova, PhD, Researcher of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of RAS (629400, Russia, Yamal-Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug, Labytnangi, Zelenaya gorka Street, 21); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6781-2375; e-mail: mechnikova@yandex.ru
Ivan A. Fufachev, PhD, Researcher of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of RAS (629400, Russia, Yamal-Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug, Labytnangi, Zelenaya gorka Street, 21); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9531-3127; e-mail: fufa4ew@yandex.ru
Denis A. Kitel, Independent Researcher (0179, Georgia, Tbilisi, Chavchavadze avenue, 7-7); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5298-2611; e-mail: kitelden@gmail.com
Alexander A. Yesergepov, Independent Researcher (153002, Russia, Ivanovo, Tashkentskaya Street, 63-47); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0202-3982; e-mail: alimovith@mail.ru
Nikolay V. Kudryavtsev, head of the eco-center "Eco-school Kuskovo" of the State Budgetary Environmental Institution of the City of Moscow "State Environmental Protection Centre" (111402, Russia, Moscow, 3rd Museum Street, 40, p. 1); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1081-5675; e-mail: nikolay63@yandex.ru
Denis V. Bogomolov, PhD, Associate professor of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya Street, 8, p. 2); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9389-2874; e-mail: bogomolovd@gmail.com
Alexander V. Kostenko, Extracurricular teacher of the Municipal budgetary institution of additional education "Children's Ecological Station" (629300, Russia, Novy Urengoy, Yuzhnaya Street, 44); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9248-7203; e-mail: kostenko-stv@yandex.ru
Natalia Y. Zakharova, PhD, Associate professor of the State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education Moscow City Pedagogical University (129226, Russia, Moscow, 2nd Selskohoziajstvenny proezd, 4); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4880-1264; e-mail: natalia2317@rambler.ru
Katarina T. Mechnikova, MSc Student of the Dresden University of Technology (01069 Germany, Dresden, Helmholtz Street, 10); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3088-2788; e-mail: kate.kit-kat@yandex.ru
Tatyana V. Sakharova, PhD, Associate professor of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya Street, 8, p. 2); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7254-3408; e-mail: tvsakharova@mail.ru
Vasiliy A. Sokolov, PhD, Senior Researcher of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of RAS (620144, Russia, Ekaterinburg, 8 Marta Street, 202); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0115-3151; e-mail: sokolov_va@ipae.uran.ru
Aleksandr A. Sokolov, PhD, Senior Researcher of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of RAS (629400, Russia, Yamal-Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug, Labytnangi, Zelenaya gorka Street, 21); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1521-3856; e-mail: sokhol@yandex.ru

Mechnikova S.A., Fufachev I.A., Kitel D.A., Yesergepov A.A., Kudryavtsev N.V., Bogomolov D.V., Kostenko A.V., Zakharova N.Y., Mechnikova K.T., Sakharova T.V., Sokolov V.A., Sokolov A.A. 2026. A long-term conservation initiative: artificial nests for Falco rusticolus (Falconidae) in Southern Yamal, North-West Siberia. Nature Conservation Research 11(3): 1–9. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2026.015

Falco rusticolus (hereinafter – gyrfalcon) is a threatened species affected by climate change and increasing human activity in the Arctic. The availability of suitable nesting sites is a critical factor for its successful breeding. To address the apparent shortage of natural nests, artificial nesting structures can be a valuable conservation tool. This paper presents the results of a long-term conservation initiative aimed at supporting a rare species, specifically the construction and monitoring of artificial nests for gyrfalcons on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia. From 2010 to 2019, we installed 43 artificial nests on trees in the middle course of the River Shchuchya basin. Gyrfalcons occupied the nests on 23 occasions, while other bird species used them seven times. We used various nest designs and tray types. The occupancy of artificial nests was checked annually from 2011 to 2024, resulting in 367 inspections, and repair and maintenance were performed if needed. Annual inspection of the nests revealed a major challenge, namely securing the nest frame and tray material to the base. We identified the most durable and effective nest design as a nest frame attached to the nest base of the artificial nest construction and a nest-tray of tightly-fitted turf sod «bump». These constructions demonstrated superior durability, remaining intact and functional for more years than other designs. Our results can be useful to develop similar conservation projects for gyrfalcons across northern regions.

Arctic, gyrfalcon, conservation action, long-term monitoring, protected species

Received: 10.06.2025. Revised: 05.01.2026. Accepted: 19.01.2026.

BirdLife International. 2021. Species factsheet: Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus. Available from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/gyrfalcon-falco-rusticolus

Booms T.L., Cade T.J., Clum N.J. 2020. Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). Version 1.0. In: S.M. Billerman (Eds.): Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. New York: Ithaca. Available from https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/gyrfal/cur/introduction

Cade T.J. 1982. The Falcons of the World. New York, Ithaca: Cornell University Press. 192 p.

Dementiev G.P., Gladkov N.A. (Eds.). 1951. Birds of the Soviet Union. Vol. 1. Moscow: Sovetskaya Nauka. 652 p. [In Russian]

Fidlóczky J., Bagyura J., Nagy K., Szitta T., Haraszthy L., Tóth P. 2014. Bird conservation on electric-power lines in Hungary: Nest boxes for saker falcon and avian protection against electrocutions. Projects' report. Slovak Raptor Journal 8(2): 87–95. DOI: 10.2478/srj-2014-0010

Franke A., Falk K., Hawkshaw K., Ambrose S., Anderson D.L., Bente P.J., Booms T., Burnham K.K., Ekenstedt J., Fufachev I., Ganusevich S., Johansen K., Johnson J.A., Kharitonov S., Koskimies P., Kulikova O., Lindberg P., Lindström B.O., Mattox W.G., McIntyre C.L., Mechnikova S., Mossop D., Møller S., Nielsen Ó.K., Ollila T., Østlyngen A., Pokrovsky I., Poole K., Restani M., Robinson B.W., Rosenfield R., Sokolov A., Sokolov V., Swem T., Vorkamp K. 2019. Status and trends of circumpolar Peregrine falcon and Gyrfalcon populations. Ambio 49(3): 762–783. DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01300-z

Kalyakin V.N. 1989. Birds of prey in ecosystems of the far north. In: Birds in communities of the tundra zone. Moscow: Nauka. P. 51–107. [In Russian]

Karyakin I.V., Nikolenko E.G., Shnayder E.P., Shiriaev O.V. 2022. Artificial Nests for the Saker Falcon in Mountainous Steppes of Southern Siberia – Platforms or Nestboxes?. Raptors Conservation 44: 68–95. [In Russian]

Kitel D., Bogomolova Y. 2017. Nesting of Gyrfalcon on the Artificial Structures in the State Nature Reserve «Nenetsky», Russia. Raptors Conservation 34: 89–92. [In Russian]

Kostenko A.V., Parfenov A.A. 2021. Additions to the avifauna of the Taz Peninsula and Noviy Urengoy (the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District). Fauna of Siberia and the Urals 2: 79–82. [In Russian]

Lobkov E.G., Gerasimov Y.N., Gorovenko A.V. 2020. Gyrfalcon in Kamchatka: population status, its phenotypic appearance and conservation problems. In: Falcons of Palearctic: distribution, population status, ecology and conservation. Voronezh. P. 150–178. [In Russian]

Mechnikova S.A., Romanov M.S., Kalyakin V.N., Kudryavtsev N.V. 2010. The gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus, in the Yamal Peninsula: Dynamics of brood size and nest size over the years 1973–2008. Russian Journal of Ecology 41(3): 256–263. DOI: 10.1134/S1067413610030100

Mechnikova S., Romanov M., Kudryavtsev N. 2011. Change in numbers and nesting ecology of the Gyrfalcon in the Yamal peninsula, Russia, from 1981 to 2010. In: R.T. Watson, T.J. Cade, M. Fuller, G. Hunt, E. Potapov (Eds.): Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World. Vol. 2. Boise, Idaho, USA: The Peregrine Fund. P. 205–212. DOI: 10.4080/gpcw.2011.0220

Mechnikova S.A., Kudryavtsev N.V., Luzan P.I. 2015. Monitoring and study of rare species of nesting birds of prey in the south of Yamal in 2010–2014. Scientific Bulletin of the Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug 2(87): 90–94. [In Russian]

Moen B.C., Kroglund R.T., Østnes J.E., Nilsen E.B., Nygård T. 2023. Wildlife Camera Monitoring Revealed the Northern Goshawk as a Predator on Gyrfalcon Nestlings. Journal of Raptor Research 57(4): 671–675. DOI: 10.3356/JRR-23-00007

Morozov V.V. 2000. Ecological bases and ways of dispersal of Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in the tundras of the European part of Russia. Russian Ornithological Journal 9(95): 3–11. [In Russian]

Morozov V. 2011. Ecological basis for the distribution and breeding of Gyrfalcons in the tundra of European Russia and preconditions for spreading to new grounds. In: R.T. Watson, T.J. Cade, M. Fuller, G. Hunt, E. Potapov (Eds.): Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World. Vol. 2. Boise, Idaho, USA: The Peregrine Fund. P. 229–238. DOI: 10.4080/gpcw.2011.0222

Newton I. 1979. Population Ecology of Raptors. Berkhamsted: T. & A. D. Poyser Ltd. 399 p.

Nikolenko E.G. 2015. The Sustainable Trapping of Falcons – is It Possible in Russia and Other CIS Countries?. Raptors Conservation 31: 32–63. DOI: 10.19074/1814-8654-2015-31-32-63 [In Russian]

Østlyngen A., Johansen K., Halvorsen P.A. 2011. Artificial nests – a remedial action in maintaining viable Gyrfalcon populations?. In: R.T. Watson, T.J. Cade, M. Fuller, G. Hunt, E. Potapov (Eds.): Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World. Vol. 2. Boise, Idaho, USA: The Peregrine Fund. P. 349–362. DOI: 10.4080/gpcw.2011.0314

Poole K.G., Bromley R.G. 1988. Natural History of the Gyrfalcon in the Central Canadian Arctic. Arctic 41(1): 31–38. DOI: 10.14430/arctic1689

Priklonsky S.G., Galushin V.M., Krever V.G. (Eds.). 1990. Methods of studying and protecting birds of prey (methodological recommendations). Moscow: Central Research Laboratory of the Main Hunting Department of the RSFSR. 315 p. [In Russian]

R Core Team. 2025. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Available from https://www.R-project.org

Rahman M.L., Purev-Ochir G., Batbayar N., Dixon A. 2016. Influence of nest box design on occupancy and breeding success of predatory birds utilizing artificial nests in the Mongolian steppe. Conservation Evidence 13: 21–26.

Ritchie R.J. 1991. Effects of oil development on providing nesting opportunities for Gyrfalcons and Rough-legged Hawks in northern Alaska. Condor 93(1): 180–184. DOI: 10.2307/1368623

Sokolov A.A., Fufachev I.A., Sokolov V.A., Sokolova N.A., Golovatin M.G., Dixon A. 2017. Gyrfalcons in a man-made landscape of the Yamal Peninsula (the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district). Fauna of the Urals and Siberia 2: 180–185. [In Russian]

Sokolov A.A., Sokolov V.A., Fufachev I.A. 2023. Gyrfalcon. In: Red Data Book of the Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug: Animals, Plants, Fungi. 3^rd ed. Salekhard: Department of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. P. 63–64 [In Russian]

Sorokin A.G., Morozov V.V. 2021. Gyrfalcon. In: Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (Animals). 2^nd ed. Moscow: VNII Ekologiya. P. 651–653. [In Russian]

Strategy for the Conservation of the Gyrfalcon in the Russian Federation. Annex to the Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation of 30.09.2024 №51-r. Moscow: VNII Ekologiya, 2024. [In Russian]

Tertitsky G.M., Pokrovskaya I.V. 1998. Rare and migratory birds of the south-eastern coast of the Gulf of Ob. In: Materials on the distribution of birds in the Urals, the Ural and Western Siberia. Vol. 3. P. 180–181. [In Russian]

Tømmeraas P.J. 1978. Kunstige reirplasser for Jaktfalk Falco rusticolus og Vandrefalk Falco peregrinus. Vår Fuglefauna 1(3/4): 142–151.