Пернатые хищники и их охрана (Oct 2018)
Dynamics of Population Numbers and Biology of the White-tailed Eagle in Steppe Forests of the Tobol-Ishim Interfluve, Kazakhstan
Abstract
The Naurzum forest was formerly the only place where nesting of White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) was known in the northern half of Kazakhstan, apart from the valleys of Irtysh and Ural rivers. In 1978–1979, five breeding territories were found there. Since the early 1980’s, a slow but steady increase of the number of White-tailed Eagles was monitored in the Naurzum Nature Reserve. Eagles’ nests appeared in Sipsyn and in Tersek, in 1994 a second pair was found in Tersek, and by 1998, the population had increased to 13 pairs. Since 1999, new pairs have appeared every year, including the first pair nesting in birch groves on the slopes of the East Turgai plateau. In 2002, the number of known breeding territories in the Naurzum forest reached 22, of which 18 were occupied. Nests with nestlings were located at a distance of 0.7 to 2.8 km. Thus, the number of White-tailed Eagles in the Naurzum forest has become equal to the number of Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca).
