Red-footed Falcons Returned to Nature for the First Time in Armenia

Red-footed falcons that were rescued and successfully rehabilitated have been returned to nature, a species that is already rarely found in the wild. According to the Environmental and Natural Resources Inspectorate, this unprecedented initiative for Armenia was made possible through the ongoing collaboration of the Inspectorate, the Ministry of Environment, the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydro-ecology of the National Academy of Sciences, the 'Zoo Fauna Art' exotic animal rehabilitation centers, and the center for the conservation of endemic and endangered species (PEES).

Months ago, birds that had sustained various injuries were transferred by Inspectorate employees to the aforementioned rehabilitation center, where care was provided by zoologists and veterinarians. Inspectorate staff and zoologists regularly visited the birds and monitored their recovery process.

Fully rehabilitated and banded, the birds were released into the natural habitat in the Ararat Plain, specifically in the area adjacent to the 'Khosrov Forest' State Reserve and in the Akhuryan region, following zoologists’ conclusions. The released red-footed falcons include the pink-footed albatross, whiskered tern, gulls, and stone-curlew. In addition to these vanishing bird species, the Inspectorate and the aforementioned group of specialists also decided to organize the return of one common sandpiper and three storks to nature.