Steppe Kestrel
Status: V category, Vulnerable, VU, Cl. One of ten species of the genus in the avifauna of the Kyrgyz Republic. Monotypic species.
Distribution general and in the country. Northwestern Africa from Morocco east to Tunisia, south to the High Atlas and central Tunisia. Southern part of the Iberian Peninsula and from the Mediterranean coast of France, southern Austria, and the southern half of Italy east to the western Sayan, Tannu-Ola, Hangai, Hubei Province. In the European part of the Russian Federation up to the 49th parallel, in the Volga Valley - up to the 52nd parallel, in western Siberia - up to the 55th, to the Krasnoyarsk region. South to the Mediterranean coast, Asia Minor, central Iran, northern Afghanistan. Breeds in the northern part of Hubei Province [7, 15]. In the Kyrgyz Republic, it is found at altitudes up to 2500 m above sea level, more often in the southwest near Arstanbap in the Fergana Valley, noted in summer in Karkyra and in the Naryn floodplain and in the Issyk-Kul basin [2, 31, 42].
Habitat. Prefers low- and mid-mountain belts, with woody and shrub vegetation in river valleys, on mountain slopes, does not avoid cultivated landscapes.
Population. Information on population numbers is very scarce. In the spruce forests of the Issyk-Kul basin, the abundance of the Steppe Kestrel reaches 0.03 individuals per square kilometer. Two young birds were noted on a telegraph pole in the Boom Gorge on August 22, 1992 [31, 42].
Life style (life cycles). There is no information on breeding biology. Two fledglings were observed on August 22, 1992, sitting on power line wires [42]. It feeds on mouse-like rodents, lizards, large insects, particularly beetles.
Limiting factors. Nest destruction, illegal shooting. Possible competitive relationships with the Common Kestrel in sympatric zones.
Breeding (keeping in captivity). No reliable information is available.
Existing conservation measures. No special conservation measures were provided.
Recommended conservation measures. It is necessary to protect nesting sites by creating mini reserves and removing such areas from active land use. Conduct an awareness campaign among local residents regarding the identification of this species and its protection. It is advisable to identify nesting sites in the republic, map the identified nests, monitor the annual dynamics of this species' population, and study the lifestyle characteristics of the Steppe Kestrel.
Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni Fleischer, 1818
Status: V category, Vulnerable, VU, C1. Monotypic species. Breeds in Tien-Shan Mountains in lowlands up to 2,500 m (8,200 feet) above sea level, more frequently in Fergana Valley in the south of the country near Arstanbap location. Data on numbers are very scarce. The density of the Lesser Kestrel is 0.03 individuals per square km in spruce forests of Issyk-Kul Region. No information on breeding biology is available. Uses rodents, lizards, large insects, e.g., beetles for food. Limiting factors are disturbance during nesting, poaching. Competition with Common Kestrel in sympatric zones is possible. It is recommended to create mini protected areas next to identified Lesser Kestrel’s nests, conduct public awareness campaigns.
