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Scientists find six gyrfalcon nests on railway bridges in Yamal

The scientists point to the growing number of gyrfalcons, which prefer making nests on railway bridges

TASS, May 16. Russian scientists inspected railway bridges in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region and found there six gyrfalcon nests. The scientists installed in the nests independent cameras to study the biggest falcons, an expert of the Scientific Center for the Arctic Studies Alexander Sokolov told TASS on Wednesday.

"Members of the expedition have returned to Labytnangi after they monitored a unique population of gyrfalcons, which recently have been making their nests on railway bridges," he said. "They studied 45 bridges in the railway’s northern part, where they found six nests."

The scientists point to the growing number of gyrfalcons, which prefer making nests on railway bridges.

"Clearly, the gyrfalcons find acceptable and favorable the conditions for making nests there, and, besides, they have a reliable food base there," he continued. "We have been studying the birds for three years, and can say now that the accuracy of the railway serving company’s personnel does not bother the birds."

"In five nests, the scientists have installed independent cameras to watch the unique population," he added.

The trip for scientists was organized by the railway serving company - Gazpromtrans - with support from the region’s Governor Dmitry Kobylkin and the regional Department on Sciences and Innovations, the expert said.

The railway in Yamal is the world’s northernmost working railway. TASS reported earlier, the first gyrfalcon nests on railway bridges were found in 2014. By using the independent cameras, equipped with motion sensors, scientists learn how the birds live, how they eat, etc.