Modern Status of the Steppe Eagle Population in the Orenburg region, Russia

Abstract

The article presents the results of the Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) monitoring in the Orenburg region in 2010–2015. For 2010–2015 the population of Steppe Eagle in Orenburg region decreased by 20.6% and is 266–349, at average 293 breeding pairs. In 2015 the average density of occupied breeding territories on the main part of the Steppe Eagle breeding population (Trans Ural – Western part of the region) in the Orenburg region was about 8.6 per 100 km2, in the other habitats of the low and middle density of species – 1.3 (0.67–2.7)/100 km2. Observed breeding success in 2013 is 0.55±1.04, in 2015 is 0.40±0.78 nestlings per occupied breeding territory. Substantial increase in the proportion of young birds in the breeding pairs from 21.7% in 2012 to 44.4% in 2015 was noticed. The main threats to the Steppe Eagle in the Orenburg region are steppe fires and death on power lines. It is likely that the decline of eagles’ population is due to increasing of negative factors on the migration routes and wintering grounds

Keywords

• пернатые хищники, хищные птицы, степной орёл, Aquila nipalensis, статус популяции, Оренбургская область