Arlie flies home

In 2017, Arlie began its long journey to the nesting grounds in the Făgăraș Mountains, Brașov County, three days later than in last year (9 February). According to data from the device mounted on the back of the bird, Arlie already travelled 500 km in just three days. If it will be a flight without incidents, the spring migration of Arlie will end in Romania in early April. You can monitor the route at http://pomarina.ro/pomarina/index.php. (more…)

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Monitoring the Lesser Spotted Eagle in the Târnavelor Hills – Niraj Valley area

Illegal logging and animal grazing through forests are the main threatening factors in the breeding period for the Lesser Spotted Eagle. The data gathered during several field trips showed that from 18 nesting sites – chicks were observed in four of them, nine pairs have not nested at all and five pairs nested unsuccessfully due to unknown causes. The nests were checked in summer. (more…)

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Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle in Romania among the first 17 projects of 2014 European Commission LIFE program

P1100182 From all the LIFE projects finished in 2014, only 17 were selected as the Best LIFE-Nature projects, and two of them are from Romania. Congratulations to the Ursuslife project, selected among the 5 best projects! The “Conservation of the Aquila pomarina in Romania” was implemented between 2010 – 2014 by the Environmental Protection Agency – Sibiu, “Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection  Association and the Romanian Ornithological Society. (more…)

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For the first time in Romania two Lesser Spotted Eagle chicks have been found in one nest

Lesser Spotted Eagle nest with two chicks on sycamore tree (Vidacut)
Lesser Spotted Eagle nest with two chicks on sycamore tree (Vidacut)
This year, Members of Milvus Group continued to verify the Lesser Spotted Eagle nests, the breeding success and the threatening factors in the breeding season and ringing the chicks in the two Natura 2000 sites. The activity is part of “LIFE08 NAT/RO/000501 project – Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle in Romania – other conservation activities were also implemented. On the 22th of July, during synchronic raptor observations on the Dealurile Târnavelor and Valea Nirajului Natura 2000 sites, we identified more Lesser Spotted Eagle territories and the approximate location of their nests. (more…)

Continue ReadingFor the first time in Romania two Lesser Spotted Eagle chicks have been found in one nest

Arlie the Lesser Spotted Eagle begins his spring migration northwards

phoca_thumb_l_dscn1332Arlie, the adult Lesser Spotted Eagle whose movements the Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle LIFE project team have been tracking by satellite transmitter since last year, has started his spring migration northwards. The satellite information, charted using the Argos System, shows that between 8 and 11 am on the 14th February, he started flying North East from Namibia. By the 17th, he had travelled 650km, bringing him near the border of Zambia. (more…)

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Mounting artificial nests and searching for new Lesser Spotted Eagle nests

nest2artificial nestWhile all Lesser Spotted Eagles started their spring migration in Africa, Milvus Group has started their seasonal conservation activities in Romania for the eagles arriving back home. One of the most important activities is searching for new eagle nests. While there are no leaves on the trees it is easier to find the nest of raptors. Until now we visited 12 forests in 9 days in the Natura 2000 sites from Valea Nirajului and Podișul Hârtibaciului. (more…)

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Conciliation meeting at national level between the Romanian electricity transmission network operators and nongovernmental bird protection organizations

Overhead power lines have a strong influence on wild bird populations. In some cases this influence is a positive one, like in the case of Saker Falcon population from the…

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Good news from Béni ”the Survivor”

Photo: Saverio Gatto
In one of our previous articles we were expressing our worries about Béni, the surviving 2010 nestling which got stuck in the south of the Sinai Peninsula on its way back to Africa after having spent the summer In Turkey and did not manage to finds his way to Africa above the Suez Channel. Our reasons for concern were well grounded, as in 2010 another juvenile, Adél, had lost her life in the same area of the Sinai Peninsula. Béni 1 is the juvenile which amazed everybody last year when, after having succeeded in crossing the Sahara, he broke all records: the fastest speed (92 km/h), the longest distance covered in one single day (511,7 km) and the most kilometres covered in total during migration (13869,17 km until 06.01.2011). (more…)

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Another transmitter-equipped Lesser Spotted Eagle dies in Africa

According to the data we received from Köves’s transmitter, the signals have been coming from the same location – the town of Mubende in Uganda since 4.11.2011. The last signal from Köves came on 17.11.2011. The fact that the signals have been coming from the same location has made us wonder if the bird is still alive or it was captured, or lost its transmitter. (more…)

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The Lesser Spotted Eagle comics

For the first time in Romania Lesser Spotted Eagles are becoming comic characters. This animation is made within the confines of the LIFE project “Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle in Romania” implemented by the Regional Environmental Agency from Sibiu in partnership with “Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association and Romanian Ornithological Society. From the 7th of December 2011 there will be an educational comic serial on the project’s website: www.pomarina.ro/RO/serial. In this comic we can follow monthly the adventures of the two main characters, Generalu’ and Piciu’ eagles, during the migration to Africa, their wintering period and their way back. The period between April and September, when the eagles are in our country, will also be illustrated. The scene of these episodes will be Transylvania, where the largest breeding Lesser Spotted Eagle population from Romania lives.  (more…)

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Migration Map of the Satellite Tracked Romanian Lesser Spotted Eagles (Aquila pomarina)

[singlepic id=450 w=250 h=200 float=left]Within the frame of the project that views the conservation of the species, entitled “Conservation of Aquila pomarina in Romania” (LIFE08 NAT/RO/000501), members of “Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association managed to capture three adults and three juvenile Lesser Spotted Eagles in May and July, in one of the project’s target areas. The birds were equipped with satellite transmitters(Microwave 45 g Solar Argos/GPS PTT-100s) which will help track their movement through the Argos system for minimum one year, so we will receive important information about their home range, habitat use,  and beginning with autumn also about their migration routes and wintering sites. The birds received other markings as well, such as aluminum and color rings (with code numbers) and wing feather paintings.

To view their movement access this page.

(more…)

Continue ReadingMigration Map of the Satellite Tracked Romanian Lesser Spotted Eagles (Aquila pomarina)