Spanish Imperial Eagle shot in Portugal

[Simon Wates]

Today it has come to public attention that last Friday, 27th February 2009 the adult male of the only pair of Spanish Imperial Eagles that successfully fledged young in Portugal last year, was found shot by its nest.

The body was found and the cause of death verified by biologists working in the Parque Natural de Vale de Guadiana in the Mertola region of the Baixo Alentejo. There are, at the moment either 4 or 5 pairs of this most beautiful and endangered eagle holding territories in Portugal - their reproduction success has been low since they made a comeback around 2000.

I am too saddened for words - I knew this bird!

I wonder if people could express their feelings in a constructive manner towards the Portuguese authorities?

Simon (too sad for smilies)

PS; Maybe people could comment on this Portuguese news website - here is the link to the article - it has a text box at the bottom - no problem writing in English but keep it simple - It would be good for them to get some response from abroad. There is another little box that say Pais - this means Country!

http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1367354

[Colin Key]

This happens in this country because there is no legislation to prevent it, and no laws which take retribution against offenders, should they be identified.

Your (understandable) viewpoint rather contradicts your opposition (in previous posts) to my total objection to the Portuguese being allowed to get away with contravention of EU laws.

Portugal, since 1975, became a democracy and, as such, entered the EU voluntarily and therefore should abide by the rules of the coalition - no exceptions; if you join the "club" you must abide by the rules or suffer the consequences. Regrettably, because the EU is a weak, poorly regulated and ineffectual body, there are no sanctions or penalties which can be applied.

This "item" might be a headline case, but in the general scheme of things there is little hope of it making a "molecule" of difference to what goes on here, or in the other circum-mediterranean countries.

It rather puts me in mind of one of Saddam Husseins's sons who, during migration periods, would fly in a a light aircraft armed with a pump-action shotgun and shoot thousands of raptors simply because it gave him "power over eagles".

Evil filth.

Colin :realmad:

[Simon Wates]

Colin,

This post is about something sacred - not about our differing opinions!

But anyway - I never opposed your "total objection to the Portuguese being allowed to get away with contravention of EU laws" on the contrary - I just don't agree with certain "tactics".

In the UK, we all know there is plenty of wildlife crime, especially regarding raptors - so we shouldn't, as British, be pulling the Portuguese apart on this one - its a dangerous road to take I believe!

I hope that at some level, the killing of this wonderful bird will fire up enough Portuguese souls to make some kind of difference.

Simon

[Simon Wates]

Last night on at least one of the main TV news channels, SIC, a small report was shown at prime time about this "crime abiental"

Here is the video: http://sic.aeiou.pt/online/video/informacao/Jornal+da+Noite/2009/3/crimeambiental.htm

The short piece doesn't show the Spanish Imperial Eagles in question (except the dead body) but shows 2 younger birds (I believe!!!) and a Short-toed Eagle, a Black-shouldered Kite and a Eurasian Black Vulture - some of the many other raptors that inhabit the area in question.

Simon

[Simon Wates]

Some good news I hope!

On the 4th February 2009, The Iberian Work Group for Spanish Imperial Eagle held its first meeting this year in Portalegre, Portugal. Of course one the discussion points was the recent shooting of the male of the only productive pair in Portugal in 2008. All the regional coordinators for the species from Spain were present as well as other key figures from both Spain and Portugal.

The principal conclusions of the meeting were:

1. Data collected in 2008 revealed a total of 254 breeding pairs including 4 in Portugal.

2. The average rate of replacement of parents within pairs is 10 years for males and 12 years for females. During the last 5 years the 4 pairs in Portugal substituted one of the pair at least once - and there was at least one case where both pair members were replaced. This leads to the worrying conclusion that non-natural mortality (power line collisions, shooting, poisoning etc.) in Portugal was very high compared to the averages for Spain.

3. In the knowledge of this alarming statistic it was decided that all young birds should be colour ringed and fitted with a standard tracking device, while all adults should be fitted with satellite tracking devices.

4. It was decided that a constant vigilance and monitoring scheme be implemented in Portugal (in Spain this is already happening) for known pairs. The main objective of this being the avoidance of situations like the recent shooting.

5. It was concluded that efforts on population studies, including its expansion, should obviously be concentrated in Portugal. Consequently, the studies and projects around this species will become Iberian projects instead of solely Spanish.

6. Search for and monitor new potential areas where Spanish Imperial Eagle could be spreading into, as well as defining the settling areas for juveniles and immatures.

Simon

[Andy1970]

I was very saddened to hear of this story. I only read about it, after I returned from holiday in Portugal. I came across this story, because I saw a bird of prey while on the N124 from Silves to Porto de Lagos, wrote down a description, and then looked up birds of prey in portugal when I got home. And the picture that I found of an Iberian Eagle is the bird we saw! But I am doubting myself now, because there are so few of them left. Is it possible it was an Iberian Eagle that I saw, or something else? If it was an Iberian eagle, does it need reporting to those people that track these birds?
Many thanks for your time, and I hope the bird recovers. I come from Yorkshire where the glorious Red Kite has been reintroduced, and not a week goes by where I dont see one circling above the fields on my drive to work!

[Colin Key]

I was very saddened to hear of this story. I only read about it, after I returned from holiday in Portugal. I came across this story, because I saw a bird of prey while on the N124 from Silves to Porto de Lagos, wrote down a description, and then looked up birds of prey in portugal when I got home. And the picture that I found of an Iberian Eagle is the bird we saw! But I am doubting myself now, because there are so few of them left. Is it possible it was an Iberian Eagle that I saw, or something else? If it was an Iberian eagle, does it need reporting to those people that track these birds?
Many thanks for your time, and I hope the bird recovers. I come from Yorkshire where the glorious Red Kite has been reintroduced, and not a week goes by where I dont see one circling above the fields on my drive to work!

Hello Andy, and welcome to the forum.

Spanish Imperial Eagle (I presume that is what you are referring to - there is no such species as "Iberian Eagle") is quite a rare bird in Portugal and is only really likely to be seen in the Alentejo; the birds are very wide-ranging in their hunting, and juveniles might stray long distances in search of territory, but as far as I know (and I am prepared to be corrected) they have not been seen in the Algarve in the area you describe between Silves and Porto de Lagos (which I know very well). Given that this species is very conspicuous, and knowing how many visiting and resident birders are around at the moment I would think it might have been seen by others.

You say that you wrote down a description of the bird - could you give more details?

Regards,

Colin

[Andy1970]

Hi, thanks for replying, the description we wrote down, was that it was big! It's body was white/cream, and it's wings were white/cream at the top, and black at the bottom, feathery tips, and the fantail. In fact when I found this pic, it was the bird spot on!

http://planetsave.com/files/2009/03/iberian-imperial-eagle-portugal-shooting.jpg

Then I read how rare it was, and thought I must be mistaken...

[Colin Key]

Hello Andy,

The photo you link to is a juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle, which is hardly likely at this time of year (although I have to admit I do not know how rapid the progression to adult plumage is - it can be four or five years in large raptors).

If you think that the photo matches your sighting then all well and good, with the proviso that identifying eagles overhead is not all that easy.

Have a look at photos (do a "Google") of Bonelli's and Short-toed Eagles which, I think, might be more likely candidates (both around in the area at the moment).

Colin

[Andy1970]

Thank you Colin, looking at google images, I'd go for Bonelli's Eagle, that looks the most likely. Knew we couldn't have seen something as rare as we though we had... Still Bonelli's eagle is a nice one to see...

[Colin Key]

I am not saying that you didn't see Spanish Imperial Eagle Andy - anything is possible, but I would have expected others also to have seen it (very conspicuous bird) as well. I suggested Short-toed on grounds of size but they are very distinctive in having almost all-white under-wing and body.

If it was a Bonelli's then that is still a good sighting - they are not an "everyday" species.

Colin

[MichaelF]

If it was a Bonneli's then that is still a good sighting
Bonneli's would be a world first :laugh:

[Colin Key]

Bonneli's would be a world first :laugh:

I'm a bit dithlextic when it comes to spelling B. Eagle and B. Warbler!!

:p

[MichaelF]

B. Eagle and B. Warbler!!
So that would be Booted Eagle and Booted Warbler, then . . . :ohdear:

[Colin Key]

So that would be Booted Eagle and Booted Warbler, then . . . :ohdear:

Bald Eagle and Barred Warbler :twitcy:

Colin

[Simon Wates]

Update

Apologies for the time lag!

The partner of the deceased male was regularly seen consorting with an imm. male during the winter of 2009 – 2010. This apparently 4th year plumaged male stayed with her into the breeding season of 2010 and although I am not sure if successful breeding took place but they at least attempted (non-fertile attempted breeding is commonplace in this species). This newly formed couple continue and it is hope that they will attempt to breed again this year. I have stayed away from the sensitive breeding site, which isn’t far away from the original nest site. For obvious reasons the location is being kept under wraps by the Life Bonelli team here in Portugal. I have regularly watched another imm. pair that are in their 3rd-4th year together in the general area over the last couple of years and I think there may well be another pair in formation. Additionally, there seems to me to be at least 3 or 4 imm birds that seem settled in the region (Baixo Alentejo – mainly the Castro Verde and Alentejo counties). All this is very encouraging and I have not heard of any further persecution.

Furthermore, Golden Eagles have increased from 1 to 2 breeding pairs in the region (3 pairs?) and Bonelli’s are at least stable with 5 pairs plus. The abundance of the most important prey items (Iberian Hare, Rabbit and Red-legged Partridge) is phenomenal in much of area discussed.

Visiting the region often produces views of the 5 Aquila Eagles on a day out nowadays – especially if you have that knack for raptors. The way things are going I believe we may hear news of breeding Eurasian Black Vulture in these parts in the not too distant future!

All this is I think due to the ongoing efforts in conservation here in Portugal and nearby Spain.

Best wishes

Simon

[Simon Wates]

I have realised that this info should be on the Conservation Issues part of Surfbirds - sorry (can it passed over?)

Simon