Did you know that the Imperial eagle is Endangered Species of the Year 2026? Protecting these magnificent birds of prey is a priority for us, so each month we bring you another fascinating chapter in their lives.

As we have shared previously, 9 pairs of eagles have already attempted to breed in Romania this year!

For more than half a century, the species had all but disappeared from Romania’s breeding bird population. After a gap of more than 60 years, we had to wait until 2016 to record the first successful breeding attempt.

But where did these birds come from?

The human world is full of lines drawn on maps and borders between countries. For nature, however, these boundaries are invisible. The satellite-tracking data and maps we are sharing clearly show how eagles tagged by our colleagues in Hungary and Serbia travel extensively throughout the region.

The maps reveal how young eagles dispersing from their natal areas, or searching for food, have regularly crossed into Romania from neighbouring countries.

Towards the end of the last century, Imperial eagle populations began to decline dramatically in neighbouring countries, too. Thanks to decades of persistent conservation work, however, this trend has been reversed:

• Today, more than 500 pairs breed in Hungary.
• In Serbia, the breeding population numbers around 30 pairs.

As the source population in Hungary recovered and grew, the eagles needed new territories. The population began to expand, with some younger birds moving east and south-east. Although their numbers remain relatively small, they have already found suitable nesting sites in Romania’s small groups of trees and tree lines.

Birds that once visited Romania only while travelling through the region in search of food have now settled and formed breeding pairs. And their numbers continue to grow!

This is one of the most encouraging examples of how nature conservation knows no borders: the sustained efforts of our neighbouring countries are helping the species make a comeback in Romania, too.

With your support, we can continue our conservation work to improve nesting conditions for eastern imperial eagles and help increase the number of breeding pairs in Romania.