Life Journal Publishes Saudi Research on Barbary Falcon Breeding Productivity

   Riyadh, September 19, 2026, SPA -- The National Center for Falcons has published a specialized field study in the international journal Life—marking its first publication in a Q1-tier journal—examining the environmental factors and nesting characteristics that influence the breeding productivity of the Barbary falcon (Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides) in the Kingdom.
   Co-authored by Dr. Monif Alrashidi of the National Center for Falcons and University of Hail, alongside Dr. Mohammed Shobrak of the National Center for Wildlife, the September 2026 study evaluated 59 breeding sites across the Kingdom's northwestern and southwestern regions during the 2026 breeding season.
   Researchers tracked environmental variables including ambient temperature, rainfall, wind velocity, and cliff-face orientation relative to prevailing winds. Across monitored locations, breeding sites yielded an average of 1.97 chicks per nest.
   Statistical modeling indicated that an increase in average seasonal wind speed of 0.678 meters per second corresponded with an estimated 19.5% decline in chick productivity, while heightened cliff-face exposure to prevailing winds correlated with an 18.7% decrease.
   The authors noted that wind speed and cliff exposure metrics provide vital baseline criteria for assessing prospective release sites for falcons reintroduced into the wild. The study recommended multi-season monitoring and granular field measurements to optimize site selection protocols and support broader raptor conservation programs in the Kingdom.
   -- SPA