Nest spacing and breeding performance in Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus in northeast Greece

Bakaloudis, D. E., Vlachos, C. G. and Holloway, G. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0495-0313 (2005) Nest spacing and breeding performance in Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus in northeast Greece. Bird Study, 52 (3). pp. 330-338. ISSN 0006-3657 doi: 10.1080/00063650509461407

Abstract/Summary

Aims: To describe the phenology and breeding success of one of the densest populations of Short-toed Eagle in Europe. Methods All nests in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest in northeast Greece were located and visited regularly throughout the 1996-98 breeding seasons. Data on every stage of the breeding cycle were collected and related to among-year variation in the weather conditions during March to June. Results: A total of 58 pairs were located during the three-year study spread across 22 territories (the same territories are usually occupied each year). The nests were evenly spaced (mean of 2.7 km between nests). Adults arrived between mid-March and mid-April. Only one egg per nest was laid. Nestlings fledged on average after 68.9 days. Eagles departed between 8 September and 2 October. Conclusions: Arrival date determines laying date. The population size appears to be stable but the species has a relatively low reproductive rate and takes three to four years to mature, consequently it may be susceptible to stochastic or human-mediated factors.