Habitat analysis and population estimates of three falcon species,red-headed merlin (Falco chicquera),common kestrel (falco tinnunculus) and saker falcon (falco cherrug),inhabiting district Chakwal,Pakistan

Nine falcon species are reported from various parts of pakistan; some of these are residents,some winter visitors,some vagrants and others passage migrants. however,very little studies exist about their population and ecology in the country. the present study,therefore,investigated habitat analysis and population status of three falcon species; red-headed merlin falco chicquera,common kestrel falco tinnunculus and saker falcon falco cherrug,in district,chakwal pakistan. eight potential sampling sites were selected through surveillance surveys. line transects were established in the selected sites for data collection and monthly visited from may 2009 to june 2010. for habitat analysis,data were recorded about trees using point-centered quarter method,while shrubs and herbs were estimated using quadrate method and analyzed in terms of density and frequency of trees,shrubs and herbs,and importance value index (ivi) for tree species. red-headed merlin was found in five sites with average population of 0.238 ± 0.06 birds /km2,common kestrel in five sites with mean density of 0.246 ± 0.05 birds /km2,whereas saker falcon in only two sites having average density of 0.245 ± 0.06 birds /km2. red-headed merlin and saker falcon were found resident while common kestrel was winter visitor plus resident in the study area. copyright 2012 zoological society of pakistan.