Conserving migrating raptors in western Georgia

Fauna & Flora works with local partners to protect birds of prey as they migrate in their millions through western Georgia.

Our work with Georgia’s raptors

Georgia is home to one of the world’s most important bird migration routes. Situated on the African-Eurasian flyway, western Georgia’s unique topography forms the Batumi Bottleneck, a coastal stretch along the Black Sea that sees millions of migrating birds pass through this natural funnel every spring and autumn. For birds of prey in particular, every journey across the flyway is a dangerous one.

Fauna & Flora works alongside local partners to support the safe passage of globally significant numbers of raptors.

The Caucasus programme has been engaging with traditional falconers since 2015 to support sustainable and ethical falconry practices, keeping this UNESCO-protected Georgian cultural phenomenon alive without jeopardising the future of the species involved.

More recently, we have begun – sensitively – to extend our community work in order to address poaching and illegal hunting, building trust to change behaviour, focusing on the next generation and using local ambassadors to promote the conservation cause.

Other initiatives include support for the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and trafficked raptors, and working with government agencies to foster cross-border collaboration and help combat illegal wildlife trade through, for example, training in the use of sniffer dogs, species identification and the enforcement of laws relating to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).