experiences in protection of nesting sites of white-tailed eagle
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INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
OF VOJVODINA PROVINCE
Experiences in protection of nesting sites of White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetusalbicilla in Pannonian part of Serbia
Hám IstvanLocal Ecological and Educational Challenge (LEEI)
Stari Begej-Carska Bara, Zrenjanin, Serbiawww.leei-carskabara.com
Marko TucakovInstitute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province
Novi Sad, Serbiawww.pzzp.rs
INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
OF VOJVODINA PROVINCE
In our conservation practice in traditional White-tailed Eagle breeding gounds in Province of Vojvodina (N Serbia) the most activites were directed in monitoring and conservation of nesting sites (nest and immediate surroundings).
The sites, in current commercial forestry management schemes, are exposed to various threats, both natural and man-influenced, but the most severe ones are negative influences of man.
In this overview some threats are described and many potentials for improvement of status of WTE breeding sites.
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The nest on side branch in managed stands of Pedunculate oak Quercus robur in late November
The same nest in early December was crushed down as a result of strong winds
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In a floodplains in wet years Autumn storms can induce massive trunk breaks in poplar plantations, followed by intensive forestry activities aimed to remove broken tres
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In vicinity of nests, on the resting sites, in several cases dead adults, shot during the winter waterbird hunting on nearby rivers
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Egshells found in the nest are most frequently result of clutch failures as a result of disturbation
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That has occured even in protected areas like Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski Rit, where fire was evident even below the nest
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Breeding site in open area, outside the forest, on solitary tree. Persistent human activities (aglricultural works with machines in the Spring) have resulted in nest failures of the same breeding pair for three consequent years
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Forestry works, especially in the period of winter and spring, in vicinity of nests, have extremely negative influence. On this slide newly buildt forestry road for wood transportation was constructed just below the nest and was used in February and March. Finaly, nest was abandoned and clutch failed
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Law enforcement isnot working inmany cases. Thisnesting tree wascutted downdespite the officialban was issuedbefore the cutting tothe local unit of theforest managementcompany
The conservationists were informed about the case by forestry workers!
INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
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Some of “selectivecutting” activitiesare illegalyperformed even inPAs, regardlessthe vicinity of thenest and the stagein reproductivecycle
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After the selective hunting in oak forests WTE are nesting for maximum two years, while after the clear cutting they are movingthe nesting site in nearest suitable forest
INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
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During the Spring monitoring each year remnants of 1-2 dead WTE were found, possibly as a result of conflits or poisining
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Much more frequently dead juveniles werefound in the nest and on the ground. Moreoften one dead chick was found while the secondone was in the nest and has survived. The causesof death were not determined in majority of cases,but it is possibly that they died after the attack ofanother animal (parent bird, another chick oranother WTE)
This eaglet has visible injuries below the eye (unknown origin)
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The cause of death in this case was keen photographer and his enormoush wish to make a photos of adults with chicks. Markedly colored photographic tent was places very cose to the nets, which was definitely an obstacle for adults to feed their chicks
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One third of nests in Serbia issituated in poplar plantationswith the circulation period of25 years. WTE is one of therare birdswhich can breed onsuch sites. Although suitablenesting niches in poplarcanopies can not be easilyfound, the relative safety andpeace before the cutting timeattracts WTE
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Sometimes broken branches are edndingup in another canopy and thus createfavorable WTE breeding place
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When all older treessuitable for WTE arefinaly cutted, they areforced to try to buildthis strange nesteven in very youngstands
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In Tisa river valleythere are almost noold native standsnor even suitablepoplar plantationsand new nests canbe found in verynarrow poplar belts
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Building of nest ondry tree is rare casebecause of thedanger of crashing
in chickraring period. Thistree was crusheddown after thefledging of a chick
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This oak forest after selective hunting was clear-cutted two years ago. There is still no nest of this pair in surroundings. Foresters are warned about this nest on timebut in January, after the egg laying, the tree-cutting was started and pair has left the area. Despite the fact that tree was not cutted, WTE pair has left the area permanently and foresters have cutted the treeafter that.
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In this case foresters have left a group of trees around the nest. After that cutting was finished and the area was reforested. WTEpair has repaired the nest and layed eggs, but clutch has failed
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In this case the spring cutting was started when chicks were hatched. During the cutting adults were feeding chicks. When cutting process was close to the nest, it was stopped till the hatching, which was succesiful
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In this case nest protection zone wqas left and even fenced with the plastic ribbon for forestry workers
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Spring 2011. Total cutting near Titel
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Conservation authority was informed by local NGO. A nest protection zone was defined and left around the nest with one chick
The group contained cca 30 trees. One chick has
hatched despite the forestry works in immediate vicinity
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The fist example of properly designed nestprotection zone (100 m radius around nest:190 poplar trees)
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This is how properly designed nest-prptection zone will look like after one decade. 2 ha of conserved mixed old native forest. There is 5 nests of WTE in the forest and one is used every year!
INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
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Thank you!• Marko Tucakov: [email protected]• Istvan Ham: [email protected]
• We are at your diposal, waiting to hear your WTE conservation experiences!
• Photos in the presentation: Istvan Ham
• The conservation work was suppored byProvincial Secretariat for Urbanism, Civil Engeneering andEnvironmental Protection
Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province
WWF – Danube-Carpathian Programme
INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
OF VOJVODINA PROVINCE