The use of DNA fingerprinting to estimate annual survival rates in the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)

DNA fingerprinting of nestlings of Falco cherrug was used to determine indi rectly the survival of the corresponding adult parent birds, which are diff icult to catch in sufficient numbers. This approach is possible because Sak er falcons show a high degree of site and mate tenacity. DNA profiles of ne stlings from the same territory but from different years were compared. Thr ee patterns of band-sharing coefficients between broods from the same terri tory were found: if band-sharing coefficients within and between broods fro m consecutive years were similar but significantly different from those of unrelated birds, it indicated that all young were full sibs and that neithe r adult was replaced between years. If band-sharing coefficients between br oods at the same site indicated no relatedness across years and were equal to those of unrelated birds, then both breeding partners apparently had cha nged. If the band-sharing coefficients between broods of the same territory and consecutive years were significantly lower than those of full sibs, bu t higher than those of unrelated birds, the loss of one adult bird was indi cated. The analysis of 32 broods (years 1993 to 1997) provided a minimal es timate for annual adult survival of 82% for a wild population of Saker Falc ons in Kazakhstan.