Lesser spotted eagles from the Carpathians will soon begin their journey to Africa
Lesser spotted eagles from the Polish Carpathians are already preparing to depart; they traditionally begin their journey to Africa in mid-September. This year, there are about half less chicks than a year ago - told PAP Dr. Marian Stój of the Eagle Conservation Committee.
In the Polish Carpathians, there are about 450 pairs of these predators.
According to Dr. Stój, these birds are extremely punctual. "Departures always start just before September 15 and continue for a few days. Their spring returns are the same: they regularly arrive in late March and early April" - he said.
The ornithologist noted that this year\'s clutches of the eagles were much less successful than last year: half less chicks have hatched. A year ago, the young left 60 percent nests, in which eagles were breeding, and only 30 percent this year - he noted.
The naturalist believes that this situation is associated with heavy rains in May and small number of little wild rodents, on which these birds prey. "Young eagles in the Carpathians are also negatively affected by the agri-environmental corncrake protection project implemented by farmers" - he said. He explained that the meadows are mowed only in August and for eagles it is difficult to hunt in high meadow vegetation.
There are more than two thousand nesting pairs of lesser spotted eagles in Poland, mostly in the north-eastern and south-eastern part of the country. In Subcarpathia, these predators can be found in the Low Beskid, Bieszczady Mountains, Sanocko-Turczańskie Mountains and Przemyskie, Dynowskie and Bukowskie foothills.
The density of population of this species in Europe is highest in the Low Beskid: up to 20 pairs per 100 sq km. Apart from our Poland, lesser spotted eagles also live in Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
Lesser spotted eagle is approx. 65 cm long, with a wing span reaching 165 cm. It preys on rodents, amphibians, reptiles and larger insects. In the Polish Carpathians it usually nests in fir trees, about halfway up the tree crown.
Until recently naturalists believed that eagles migrate to wintering grounds in pairs, even with their offspring. This view has been refuted by telemetry studies. It turned out that each family member takes a different route.
Lesser spotted eagles from the Polish Carpathians spend the winter on the savannas of eastern, central and southern Africa.
PAP - Nauka w Polsce
kyc/ pad/
tr. RL
Przed dodaniem komentarza prosimy o zapoznanie z Regulaminem forum serwisu Nauka w Polsce.
