Falcon chicks have hatched out in an artificial nest built by ornithologists in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area in the south of the Yamal Peninsula, TASS reported, citing the press service of the regional department for science and innovations.

"An expedition to monitor, study and protect rare birds of prey in southern Yamal has now been completed. It was organized by the Arktika Interregional Expedition Center. This is the first such instance of this kind ever recorded of falcon progeny on one of the artificial platforms. These are made out of wood and were installed by ornithologists in order to increase nest density and boost breeding among Red Data Book bird species," the press service said.

According to ornithologist Svetlana Mechnikova of the Russian Bird Conservation Union, eight artificial nests were inspected during the expedition, four of which were occupied.

"A falcon couple that settled in one of the nests has produced offspring — two chicks. Another nest was covered over by a golden eagle, however there were no chickens inside. The remaining two nests were occupied, one by pigeon hawks and the other by rough-legged buzzards, both couples were hatching eggs," she said.

From 2010 to 2016, ornithologists from the Bird Conservation Union installed more than 30 artificial nests for falcons as these bird species do not build nests of their own, but prefer occupying nests built by other birds.