1. HABITAT ANALYSIS,POPULATION ESTIMATES AND NESTING ECOLOGY OF
THREE FALCON SPECIES IN DISTRICT CHAKWAL
Tariq Mehmood,* Riaz Hussain, Muhammad Rais,Iftekhar Hussain, Maqsood Anwar
and Muhammad Sajid Nadeem
Department of Wildlife Management
Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi

2. INTRODUCTION

3. FALCON
DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY
FAMILY
Falconidae
ORDER
FALCONIFORMES
GENUS
FALCO
SPECIES STATUS
• “Falcon” (L) “ falx ”
• “sickle"
Birds are named due to
• curved beak or talons
(Webster and McKechnie, 1983).
• shape of their spreading wings
(Harper, 2001).
 Species in the world
37 species 17 sub-species,
(Collar, et al., 1994).
 Pakistan,
09 species reported
(Roberts, 1991; Ahmed, 2003 and Naoroji, 2006)

4. Common Name Scientific Name Status Occurrence
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Vagrant Aaround Quetta (Balochistan), Dera Ismail Khan
(KPK) and Murree hills Pnjab).
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Resident and
breeder
Balochistan areas; Zhob, Chaman, Quetta, Sibi, Kalat
and Chaghi, Dera Ghazi Khan and salt range foothill
zone in Punjab, winter visitor throughout the KPK,
also seen in Gilgit and Bultistan.
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug Winter visitor Balochistan, areas,Indus delta in Sindh. Attock
districts, seen around Rawal lake (ISB), not recorded
in the Potohar plateau, also a winter visitor
throughout KP K.
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Resident and
winter visitor
Coastal areas of Karachi, found in Kirther hills and
Jacobabad , resident and breeds in Thal desert, Kohat
and Chitral.
Merlin Falco columbarius Winter passer
migrant
Ziarat and Loralai (Balochistan), Mirpur Sakro in
Thata (Sindh), Jhang, Taunsa barrage, Raheem Yar
Khan(Punjab), itor to Kohat (Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa)
and Gilgit.
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo winter visitor,
summer breeder
Karachi, Sukkur and Mirpur (Sindh), coastal area of
Balochistan, hilly areas of Rawalpindi (Punjab) and
winter visitor to Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu (KPK).
Red-headed Merlin Falco chicquera Rare Resident Tharparkar and Cholistan. Rawal Lake (Islamabad),
Mianwali, Lal Sohanra NP (Punjab), Kohat and
Peshawar KPK.
Laggar Falcon Falco jugger Rare Resident Southern Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and in the lower
plain areas of KPK..
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor Summer visitor occurs as a summer breeder along the Makran coast in
the province of Balochistan

5. OBJECTIVES
• HABITAT ANALYSIS
• POPULATION ESTIMATION
• NESTING ECOLOGY

6. STUDY AREA
Fig. 1 Map of Punjab province showing study district Chakwal

7. CHAKWAL
• Geographical Coordinates
32 56' 0" N
72 52' 0" E
• Area
6524 Sq.km.
• Administrative Division
Tehsil Chakwal
Tehsil Talagang
Tehsil Choa Saiden Shah
Tehsil Kallar Kahar
• Ecosystem type.
Salt Range (South)
Potohar Range (North)

8. (May2009 to June 2010)
 Average temperature
14.25 to 30.77 C
 Average rainfall
0.00 mm (Dec, 2009)
to 47.8mm (June, 2010)
• Crops.
wheat, peanut, maize, oat,
sorgum, millet and barley.

9. STUDY DESIGN
• Preliminary surveys
• Selection of study sites (8 Sites)
• Area of each study site 2x2km
• Data collected fortnightly

10. Table2.Details of eight selected study sites
Study
Site No.
Name of Place GPS Location Elevation
(m)
Habitat
Type
Water
Source
I Dhoke Chatal
(Chakwal)
N 32º58' 0.00"
E 72º55' 26.5"
503 *Mixed Barsati nala
II Dhoke Wadhan
(Chakwal)
N 32º03' 27.17"
E 72º57' 41.07"
515 Open
cultivated
fields
Barsati nala
III Punjain
(Chakwal)
N 32º53'38.12"
E 72º59 50.62"
473 Mixed Barsati nala
IV Jabairpur
(Chakwal)
N 32º55'09.2"
E 72º53'34.2"
512 Mixed Rain water pond
and
Barsati nala
V Karangli hill
(Choa Saiden
Shah)
N 32º45'35.3"
E 73º01'48.8"
1092 Hilly and
Forest
Barsati nala
And natural springs
VI Chumbi
(Kallar Kahar)
N 32º 46'14.9"
E 72º 43'12.3"
638 Mixed Barsati nala and
natural springs
VII Chinji
(Talagang)
N 32º 42'29.5"
E 72º22'17.2"
697 Mixed Rain water ponds
VIII Chaman Samsal
(Tlagang)
N 32º 57'03.0"
E 72º 18'48.4"
468 Open, low
vegetation
.
Rain water ponds
Fig.2 Satellite map showing location of
eight selected study sites

11. METHODOLOGY
1. HABITAT ANALYSIS
Vegetation Study (trees, shrubs, herbs) 2km
• Point Centered Quarter method 800m
(Cottom and Cartis, 1956).
400m
800m
• Number of points on each transect line--- 07
• Distance between points ----- 250m
• Selected points on each transect line ----- 03
• Shrubs and Herbs: Quadrate Method (Emlen 1956; Schemnitz, 1980).
For shrub species quadrate 4m x 4m
For herb species quadrate 1m x 1m
Number of quadrates 06

12. 2. POPULATION ESTIMATION
• Visual Observation Method.
• Line transects traveled regularly by foot and by motor bike
following Kochart (1986), Milsap and LeFranc (1988).
• Binocular (Olympus, 10 x 50 DPSI)
• Digital camera (Sony 7.2 M.p and Sony Ericsson mobile phone 8.1 M.p)
• Formula for Population density of the individual falcon species
∑ n
D =
2W x L
• Statistical Analysis
One way ANOVA (population density of the falcon species)

13. 3. NESTING ECOLOGY
• Search for nests by direct observation
• Active or inactive
• Nests probable to be occupied by three falcon
species

14. RESULTS

15. Table3 Density, frequency, relative dominance and IVI of the tree species
Site No. Sr. No Scientific name Density/
ha
Relative
Density
Frequency Relative
Frequency
Relative
Dominance
IVI
I 1 Acacia modesta 0.40 4.13 16.66 6.25 2.89 13.27
2 Acacia nilotica 3.63 37.53 100.0 37.49 43.47 118.49
3 Zizyphus mauritiana 4.44 45.91 100.0 37.49 39.13 122.53
4 Dalbergia sissoo 0.80 8.27 33.33 12.49 13.04 33.80
5 Tamarix aphylla 0.40 4.13 16.66 6.25 1.44 11.82
Mean 1.93±0.87 19.99 ±8.99 53.33±19.29 19.99±7.23 19.99±8.95 59.98±25.02
II 6 Acacia modesta 1.03 12.50 50.00 16.66 1.45 30.61
7 Acacia nilotica 3.09 37.50 100.00 33.33 7.27 78.10
8 Zizyphus mauritiana 2.40 29.16 88.33 27.78 87.27 144.23
9 Dalbergia sissoo 1.03 12.50 33.33 11.11 2.90 26.51
10 Melia azedarach 0.69 8.33 33.33 11.11 1.09 20.53
Mean 1.64±0.46 19.99±5.65 60.99±14.0 19.99±4.51 19.99±16.85 59.99±23.42
III 11 Acacia modesta 0.84 8.32 33.33 12.50 5.55 26.37
12 Acacia nilotica 4.20 41.58 83.33 33.12 55.55 130.25
13 Zizyphus mauritiana 3.37 33.33 100.0 37.50 27.77 98.60
14 Eucalyptus globules 0.42 4.16 16.66 6.24 2.77 13.17
15 Tamarix aphylla 0.84 8.31 16.66 6.24 4.16 18.71
16 Melia azedarach 0.42 4.16 16.66 6.24 4.16 14.56
Mean 1.68±0.67 16.64±6.70 44.44±15.31 16.97±5.90 16.66±8.68 50.27±20.77
IV 17 Acacia modesta 1.65 20.88 50.00 18.75 15.00 54.63
18 Acacia nilotica 2.30 29.16 88.33 31.25 50.00 110.41
19 Zizyphus mauritiana 3.29 41.66 100.00 37.50 41.66 120.82
20 Morus alba 0.33 4.17 16.66 6.25 4.66 15.42
21 Eucalyptus globulus 0.33 4.17 16.66 6.25 5.00 15.42
Mean 1.58±0.57 20.0±7.26 54.33±17.46 20.0±6.37 23.26±9.49 63.34±22.56

16. Density, frequency, relative dominance and IVI of the tree
species at different study sites in district Chakwal.
Site No. Sr. No Scientific name Density/
ha
Relative
Density
Frequency Relative
Frequency
Relative
Dominance
IVI
V 22 Acacia modesta 13.83 58.35 100.00 42.86 47.90 149.11
23 Acacia nilotica 2.96 12.50 50.00 21.43 17.96 51.89
24 Dalbergia sissoo 0.99 4.17 16.66 7.14 4.79 16.10
25 Eucalyptus globulus 0.99 4.17 16.66 7.14 5.38 16.69
26 Melia azedarach 0.99 4.17 16.66 7.14 17.96 2927
27 Olea ferruginea 3.95 16.66 33.33 14.28 5.98 36.92
Mean 3.95±2.04 16.67±8.60 38.88±13.38 16.66±5.73 16.66±6.73 49.99±20.56
VI 28 Acacia modesta 1.97 24.93 83.33 26.32 13.89 65.14
29 Acacia nilotica 2.96 37.46 100.0 31.58 41.67 110.64
30 Zizyphus mauritiana 0.33 4.18 16.66 5.26 2.78 12.22
31 Dalbergia sissoo 1.65 20.88 66.66 21.05 27.78 69.71
32 Eucalyptus globulus 0.33 4.18 16.66 5.26 4.17 13.61
33 Melia azedarach 0.66 8.35 33.33 10.53 9.72 28.60
Mean 1.31±0.43 16.66±5.47 52.77±14.54 16.66±4.59 16.66±6.20 49.98±15.81
VII 34 Acacia modesta 2.40 37.50 100.0 37.08 27.03 101.60
35 Acacia nilotica 1.87 29.21 66.66 24.72 27.03 80.96
36 Zizyphus mauritiana 1.87 29.21 88.33 32.75 40.54 102.50
37 Melia azedarach 0.26 4.06 16.66 6.17 5.40 15.63
Mean 1.60±0.46 24.99±7.24 67.91±18.42 25.18±6.83 25.0±7.26 75.17±20.46
VIII 38 Acacia nilotica 3.36 45.90 100.0 39.22 43.48 128.60
39 Zizyphus mauritiana 2.74 37.43 83.33 34.64 32.61 104.8
40 Dalbergia sissoo 0.92 12.56 50.00 19.61 21.74 53.91
41 Melia azedarach 0.30 4.09 16.66 6.53 2.17 12.79
Mean 1.83±0.72 24.99±9.93 62.49±18.47 25.0±7.44 25.0±8.80 75.02±25.94

17. Fig.3 A comparison of average values of IVI for tree species occurring in the eight
selected habitats of the study area. Values expressed as mean ±SE.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Study Sites
MeanIVI

18. Table 4 Density and frequency of shrub species at different study sites in Chakwal district.
Site Shrub Species D/4m2 RD F RF
I Zizyphus nummularia 0.66 23.53 50 23.07
Capparis decidua 0.33 11.76 33.33 15.38
Prosopis juliflora 0.83 29.41 66.66 30.79
Calotropis procera 0.66 23.53 33.33 15.38
Saccharum griffithii 0.33 11.76 33.33 15.38
Mean 0.56±0.09 19.99±3.53 43.33±6.66 20.00±3.08
II Calotropis procera 0.66 28.57 50 37.50
Prosopis juliflora 0.33 14.28 16.66 12.49
Saccharum griffithii 0.66 28.57 33.33 25.00
Zizyphus nummularia 0.66 28.57 33.33 25.00
Mean 0.57±0.08 24.99±3.57 33.33±6.80 24.99±5.10
III Capparis decidua 0.33 15.38 33.33 22.22
Prosopis juliflora 0.66 30.77 50 33.33
Zizyphus nummularia 0.83 29.41 33.33 22.22
Adhatoda vasica 0.33 15.38 33.33 22.22
Mean 0.53±0.12 22.73±4.25 37.49±4.16 24.99±2.77
IV Prosopis juliflora 1 31.58 50 25
Calotropis procera 0.33 10.53 33.33 16.66
Saccharum griffithii 0.5 15.78 33.33 16.66
Ricinus communis 1 31.58 33.33 16.66
Capparis decidua 0.5 15.78 50 25
Mean 0.66±0.13 21.05±4.40 39.99±4.08 19.99±2.04
V Justicia adhatoda 0.33 8.69 33.33 13.33
Dodonaea viscosa 1.5 39.13 83.33 33.33
Cannabis sativa 1.17 30.43 50 20.00
Adhatoda vasica 0.5 13.04 50 20.00
Ziziphus nummularia 0.33 8.69 33.33 13.33
Mean 0.76±0.24 19.99±6.24 49.99±9.12 19.99±3.65
VI Calotropis procera 0.66 23.53 50 27.27
Cannabis sativa 1 35.29 50 27.27
Adhatoda vasica 0.66 23.53 50 27.27
Zizyphus nummularia 0.5 17.65 33.33 18.18
Mean 0.70±0.10 25.00±3.69 45.83±4.16 24.99±2.27
VII Zizyphus nummularia 1 37.50 50 30
Justicia adhatoda 0.66 25.00 50 30
Calotropis procera 0.5 18.75 33.33 19.99
Prosopis juliflora 0.5 18.75 33.33 19.99
Mean 0.66±0.11 25.00±4.41 41.67±4.81 24.99±3.12
VIII Zizyphus nummularia 0.33 18.18 33.33 24.99
Saccharum griffithii 0.66 36.36 50 37.5
Calotropis procera 0.83 45.45 50 37.5
Mean 0.60±0.14 33.33±8.01 44.44±5.55 33.33±4.17

19. SHRUBS SPECIES
Fig.4 A comparison of average density of shrub species in
eight selected study sites of district Chakwal from May
2009 to June 2010. Values expressed as mean SE.
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Study Sites
Averagedensityper4meterSq
Fig.5 A comparison of average frequency of shrub species
in eight selected study sites of district Chakwal from May
2009 to June 2010. Values expressed as mean ±SE
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
StudySites
meanfrequency

20. HERBS SPECIES
Fig.6 Density (per sq. m) of herb species in
eight different study sites. Values expressed as
mean SE.
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Study Sites
DensityperSq.meter)
Fig.7 Average frequency of herb species in the
study areas from May 2009 to June2010.
Values expressed as mean SE.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
StudySites
Frequency

21. POPULATION ESTIMATION
Month
Site I Site III Site V Site VI Site VII
Mean
density in
five study
sites ± SENo.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
May-09 04 1.25 - - - - - - - -
Jun 03 0.94 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 - -
Jul - - - - - - - - 02 0.63
Aug 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31
Sep 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31
Oct 01 0.31 - - - - - - - -
Nov 01 0.31 - - - - 02 0.63 01 0.31
Dec-09 02 0.63 - - - - - - 03 0.94
Jan-10 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31
Feb - - - - 02 0.63 01 0.31 - -
Mar 01 0.31 - - - - - - 01 0.31
Apr 02 0.63 - - 01 0.31 02 0.63 - -
May 02 0.63 - - 01 0.31 02 0.63 02 0.63
Jun-10 01 0.31 - - - - 01 0.31 01 0.31
Total 20 6.25 02 0.62 07 2.18 11 3.44 13 4.05
Mean±SE 0.45± 0.09 0.04±0.03 0.16±0.05 0.25±0.06 0.29±0.07
0.238
±0.06
Red-headed Merlin (Falco chicquera)
Average density (per sq. km) in different
selected sites of district Chakwal from
May 2009 to June 2010. Values expressed
as mean ±SE.
p <0.05

22. POPULATION ESTIMATION
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Population Density of Common Kestrel in selected
study sites from May 2009 to June 2010. p > 0.05
Month Site II Site III Site IV Site V Site VIII
Mean
population
density in
five study
sites±SE
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
May-09 - - - - - - - - - -
Jun - - - - - - - - - -
Jul - - - - - - - - 01 0.31
Aug - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 01 0.31 - - - - - - - -
Oct 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 - - 02 0.63
Nov 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 02 0.63
Dec-09 02 0.63 01 0.31 02 0.63 01 0.31 01 0.31
Jan-10 01 0.31 - - - - 01 0.31 01 0.31
Feb 01 0.31 02 0.63 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31
Mar 02 0.63 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31
Apr 01 0.31 01 0.31 - - 04 1.30 02 0.63
May 01 0.31 01 0.31 02 0.63 02 0.63 01 0.31
Jun-10 - - - - 02 0.63 01 0.31 01 0.31
Total 10 3.43 07 3.13 10 3.13 12 3.48 12 4.06
Mean±SE 0.25±0.05 0.22±0.05 0.22±0.06 0.29±0.05 0.25±0.10 0.246±0.05

23. Density of Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in the selected
study sites of district Chakwal from May 2009 to
June 2010. p < 0.05
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)
Month Site V Site VI
Mean
population
density in
two study
sites±SE
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
No.
Obs
Density
/km2
May-09 - - - -
Jun - - - -
Jul - - - -
Aug 01 0.31 - -
Sep 02 0.63 01 0.31
Oct 02 0.63 - -
Nov - - - -
Dec-09 01 0.31 - -
Jan-10 02 0.63 - -
Feb 01 0.31 01 0.31
Mar 03 0.94 - -
Apr 02 0.63 01 0.31
May 02 0.63 - -
Jun-10 03 0.94 - -
Total 19 5.96 03 0.93
Mean±SE 0.42±0.09 0.07±0.03 0.245±0.06
POPULATION ESTIMATION

24. Some details about the numbers of nests probable to be occupied by three falcon
species during the study period in selected study sites.
Common kestrel nest in cavity on a cliff
Red -headed
merlin’s nest
Red-headed
merlin juvenile
Saker falcon’s
nest on a cliff
Study Site
No.
Falcon species in
the study site
Numbers of nests of
Crows/ Kites can be
occupied by the falcon
species
Number of
active nests
I Red-headed Merlin 28 1
II Common Kestrel 24 -
III Common Kestrel 19 -
IV Common Kestrel 22 1
V Saker Falcon &
Common Kestrel
07 2
VI Red-headed Merlin 17 -
VII Red Headed Falcon 26 1
VIII Common Kestrel 15 -

25. Conservation Status
Red-headed Merlin
• “Least Concern” (IUCN, 2010)
• Appendix-II (CITES, 2010)
• Global population estimated in 2009
• 10,000 to 100,000 mature pairs
(Bird Life Int., 2010)
Common Kestrel
• “Least Concern” (IUCN 2010)
• Appendix- II (CITES, 2010)
• Global population estimated is 5,000,000 (Bird Life Int., 2010)
Saker Falcon
• “Endangered” (IUCN, 2010)
• Appendix-II (CITES, 2010)
• Global population is between 9,400-17,700 breeding pairs
(Dixon, 2009)

26. Threats
• Loss of habitat
• Commercial Exploitation - Trapping and Shooting
(Ahmed, 2003)
Recommendations
• Tree cutting should be strictly stopped
• Illegal Trapping should be checked