A new field study from Saudi Arabia has identified wind speed and cliff exposure as critical factors in the breeding success of Barbary falcons, offering practical guidance for conservation efforts in a region where traditional falconry intersects with modern wildlife protection. The research, published in September in the international scientific journal Life, monitored 59 breeding sites across northwestern and southwestern Saudi Arabia during the 2026 breeding season and found that even modest increases in wind speed correspond to significant declines in chick survival.
The study was conducted by Monif Al-Rashidi of the University of Ha'il and the National Centre for Falcons, and Mohammed Shobrak of the National Centre for Wildlife. It's the center's first peer-reviewed study to appear in a journal ranked in the first quartile by the Journal Citation Reports, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Environmental Pressures on Nesting Sites
Researchers examined environmental variables including wind speed, rainfall, temperature and the orientation of cliff faces in relation to prevailing winds. The monitored sites produced an average of 1.97 chicks each. Statistical analysis revealed that a 0.678 metre-per-second increase in average seasonal wind speed was associated with an expected 19.5 percent decline in chick productivity. Greater exposure of cliff faces to prevailing winds was linked to an expected productivity decline of 18.7 percent.
These findings aren't abstract. They translate directly into which cliffs offer shelter and which expose vulnerable chicks to conditions they can't survive. For conservationists planning falcon releases, the data provides a measurable standard for assessing site suitability.
Conservation Applications
The researchers said the findings could help authorities assess suitable locations for releasing falcons back into the wild and improve conservation programmes. They recommended continued monitoring over several breeding seasons, as well as more detailed field measurements to strengthen the assessment of release sites, SPA noted.
The research forms part of the center's efforts to support specialised scientific studies, expand knowledge of falcons and their habitats, and apply research findings to release and conservation programmes. In this year, the National Center for Falcons conducted a field visit to inspect and document Barbary falcon nesting sites in the Asir region, in cooperation with the National Center for Wildlife and the Special Forces for Environmental Security.
The Hadad Initiative
The visit formed part of the center's Hadad initiative, launched five years ago to protect endangered falcons, restore them to their natural habitats and promote sustainable falconry practices. The initiative reflects Saudi Arabia's effort to balance cultural traditions—falconry has deep roots in the Arabian Peninsula—with science-based conservation that acknowledges the pressures facing wild populations.
The Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition will be held from Oct. 1 to 10 in Malham, north of Riyadh.
Why This Matters:
This study represents a practical intersection of conservation science and cultural heritage. Barbary falcons face habitat pressures across their range, and understanding the specific environmental conditions that support successful breeding gives conservationists concrete criteria for site selection. The findings also illustrate how seemingly small environmental variables—less than one metre per second of wind speed—can have measurable impacts on wildlife survival. As Saudi Arabia expands its wildlife restoration efforts, studies like this provide the evidence base needed to move beyond symbolic releases toward programs grounded in ecological reality. The collaboration between multiple national agencies suggests a coordinated approach to falcon conservation that could serve as a model for other species facing similar pressures.