7. March 2011
A very interesting new publication about electrocution and Spanish Imperial Eagles is now available:
Solving Man-Induced Large-Scale Conservation Problems: The Spanish Imperial Eagle and Power Lines.
The article is completely available on the website and can also be downloaded as a PDF file.
It clearly shows that taking action and isolating dangerous power lines can help to reduce mortality through electrocution. It is crucial for the future of this amazing but very rare eagle species that as many powerlines as possible will be made secure for raptors. Those measures will not only benefit the Spanish Imperial Eagle but also other raptors including the endangered Bonelli’s Eagle which is a very common victim of electrocution.
31. January 2011
Raptor poisoning is a serious problem in many European countries, including Germany, where such incidents are more common as people generally think.
In 2010, at least 4 White-tailed Sea Eagles were poisoned in Schleswig-Holstein (the most northern state in Germany) with the pesticide Mevinphos.
Often, this poison is used to kill animals like Red Foxes but the carrion eating Sea Eagles also fall victim to this disgusting way of killing wildlife.
The real number of eagles killed may be even higher as not every killed eagle is always found.
More information can be found on the NABU (Birdlife Germany) website (in German):
Vier Seeadler mit Insektengift getötet
4. December 2010
Electrocution is a serious problem for the conservation of large birds like storks and raptors. Many European raptor species are regularly killed by electrocution on unsafe pylons. Especially high are the numbers for some rare and endangered species like the Bonelli’s Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle or Eastern Imperial Eagle, but many other species are also regularly killed.
Researchers from the Conservation Biology Group at the University of Barcelona, lead by Joan Real have now published the results of study called “Predicting and Correcting Electrocution of Birds in Mediterranean Areas”. They found out that with securing only 6% of the most dangerous power lines the number of birds dying from electrocution can be reduced by as much as 70%.
This is very important information. In many countries there is not enough money for securing all pylons and power lines. So the knowledge that securing a small number of pylons can already have big effects on raptor populations is great news for everyone fighting electrocution.
Another serious problem with power lines is collision, which also affects raptors and other endangered species like the Great Bustard.
To learn more about the work of the people at the Conservation Biology Group at the University of Barcelona and electrocution and it’s effect an raptors, click here:
Electrocution of birds and collision with power lines: Solutions to a global problem
11. November 2010
The White-tailed Eagle population in Scotland has reached another record. This year there are 52 adult pairs, 6 more than in 2009. The pairs raised 46 young, also a new record. This is a great success for Europe’s largest eagle species and for everyone who was or still is involved in this project.
In the next years, we can also expect the first birds in eastern Scotland to start breeding where a reintroduction program started releasing birds in 2007.
To learn more about the good news, click here:
Young sea eagle numbers soaring in Scotland
4. November 2010
Bernd Meyburg is one of the leading experts on satellite tracking of raptors. His studies have revealed many important details in the life of raptors like Amur Falcons, Lesser and Greater Spotted Eagles and many others.
On his website he makes many publications available online.
Now two new publications are available (as poster presentations):
Meyburg, B.-U. & C. Meyburg 2010. Satellite tracking of Imperial Eagles Aquila heliaca. 6th International Conference on Asian Raptors. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 23-27 June 2010: Poster
http://www.raptor-research.de/pdfs/a_sp100p/a_sp146_Poster_Imp_Eagle.pdf
Meyburg, B.-U. & C. Meyburg 2010. Migration strategies of 16 Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis tracked by satellite. 6th International Conference on Asian Raptors. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 23-27 June 2010: Poster
http://www.raptor-research.de/pdfs/a_sp100p/a_sp147_poster_Steppe_Eagle.pdf
Make sure to also have a look at all the other publications on Bernd Meyburgs website.
21. October 2010
I am happy to announce the 3rd interview about the Short-toed Eagle published here on europeanraptors.org. This time, Francesco Petretti explains the current situation of the Short-toed Eagle in Italy.
Click here to read the interview:
Interview with Francesco Petretti about the Short-toed Eagle in Italy
Also make sure to check out Francesco’s book:
“L’aquila dei serpenti” – Francesco Petretti’s book
19. October 2010
Great news for raptors in Ireland, especially for the ongoing reintroduction projects for Red Kites, Golden Eagles and White-tailed Eagles.
The Irish government has now banned the poisons often used to illegally kill raptors (the only exception are poisons used to kill mice and rats).
Breaking this law can result in a fine of up to 5,000 Euros or up to 12 month in prison.
Although there will probably be people who continue to use those poisons illegally, this is a clear message against this disgusting practice of poisoning those magnificent birds and a great victory for conservationists in Ireland.
More information:
Ban for poison used to kill birds of prey
29. September 2010
Satellite tracking is an important tool to learn more about the movements and threats of raptors. A new project follows the movements and migration of juvenile Short-toed Eagles in Italy. Two eagles were fitted with satellite transmitters in the Regional Park Gallipoli Cognato. The project is done by Ugo Mellone (who already did a great interview for europeanraptors.org about the Mediterranean Raptor Migration Network ).
To follow the movements of those two young eagles, click here:
http://www.parcogallipolicognato.it/ita/web/nav.asp?nav=130
28. September 2010
White-tailed Eagle, Germany, June 2009, © Markus Jais
Few birds are as impressive as the huge White-tailed Eagle. The largest Eagle in Europe with a wingspan up to 245cm, the Sea Eagle, as it is also known, is always a spectacular sight.
Fortunately, today it is also a much more common sight than it was 40 years ago. Thanks to conservation efforts across Europe, plenty of prey and less persecution, the White-tailed Eagle has made an amazing comeback in many European countries. One of them is Austria where the species was completely extinct until in 1999 the first pair tried to breed again.
Today there are already between 13-15 breeding pairs and the future looks bright, despite losses through illegal poisoning or lead poisoning.
In a new interview, Remo Probst, one of the leading experts on the species in Europe, describes the current situation of this amazing eagle in Austria:
Read the full interview here:
Interview with Remo Probst about the White-tailed Eagle in Austria
Also have a look at the PDFs available at the end of the interview.
21. September 2010
Raptor Persecution Scotland has just published a new analysis about illegal killing of eagles in Scotland during the last years and how the killers got away with it unpunished:
eagle killers getting away with it
It is a shame that the illegal persecution of raptors continues across Europe in the 21st century.
