Mankind has felt a mixture of admiration and hatred towards eagles since ancient times. Admiration for their beauty, strength and vitality, and hatred that sees them as fierce competitors in the hunt for pets and enemies. They have been accepted for more than two thousand years symbol of majesty, power and victory. Military ensigns became the leading heroes of heraldry and were used by many peoples as a national symbol, especially imperial. golden eagle (aquila chrysanthemum) is the largest, most powerful of all Iberian eagles: the Spanish ‘queen of the skies’. There are between 1,500 and 1,800 pairs on the peninsula. Although its population remains stable, ornithologists fear a 10% reduction in specimens on the peninsula over the next 30 years.
The golden eagle is only missing in Spain – the Canary Islands, which don’t seem to have lived at all – and the Balearic Islands, where everything shows it went extinct a few centuries ago. Although it occupied the entire peninsula for a thousand years, currently occupies most of the mountainous areasmainly due to habitat loss from human pressure.
Females are much larger than males, with some reaching a length of about one meter and a wingspan of 2.30 meters. A wide variety of diets include mammals (especially rabbits and hares), birds (especially pigeons and partridges), and reptiles (lizards and snakes). It also consumes carrion.
It is primarily a rocky bird of prey, seeking to nest in uneven and rocky areas. Although it avoids large forest masses, it can occupy a wide variety of habitats as long as there are disturbed ground and quiet areas to breed.
The oldest specimen lived to be 46 years old.
Golden eagles are monogamous and keep the same mates throughout their lives. And this is not short: The oldest known golden eagle survived in captivity in Europe until he was 46 years old.. The earliest known wild specimen lived in North America and reached an age of 23 years and 10 months.
It is estimated that there are between 6,600 and 12,000 breeding pairs in Europe.. The most recent estimate made in Spain in 2008, The peninsula is home to one of the largest populations on the continent, with 1,553 to 1,769 pairs..
Although the golden eagle has always been persecuted by humans, it began in the 17th century. systematic destructionparallel to other symbolic species such as the brown bear, wolf, lynx, bearded vulture, and other predators.
for three centuries, Between 1960 and 1990, the time of greatest persecution of raptors in Spain was recorded with heavy use of poison.This resulted in a 30% reduction in the number of soldiers. It has since recovered and currently its population remains stable.
Golden eagles welcome best flyers of all raptors. A typical “idle” flight speed for golden eagles is between 45 and 52 kilometers per hour. But while hunting or displaying they can reach speeds of up to 190 kilometers per hour..
It is even faster when diving after a hunt, because in this case a golden eagle can dive and reach speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour. What makes the golden eagle one of the fastest flying animals in the world is probably superior to the meteorite’s falling speed.
Nests up to 2,200 meters high
Each pair usually has several nests in its territory that it reuses periodically. As noted in the species file by SEO/BirdLife, the golden eagle’s breeding cycle begins at the end of January with a mating parade. Spawning takes place from the end of February to the end of March.and consists of one to four eggs of dull white color with reddish-brown mottling.
Incubation, which includes only the female, lasts between 41 and 45 days. In 90% of cases, they build their nest on rocks 200 to 2,200 meters above sea level. The remaining 10% (and up to 40% in areas with scarcity of cliffs and plentiful food, such as the Ebro valley) is installed on different tree species, primarily pine, holm oak and cork oak.
The nest can reach 2 meters in height and up to 1.5 meters in diameter.. It consists of a solid structure of branches covered with plants and even wool. The largest are usually found in trees. Although women do most of the work, two parents are responsible for doing it for about four to eight weeks.
The chicks are cared for by both parents and are constantly monitored by the female with the help of the male for up to 14 days. Two adults feed them until they are 30 days old.and from then on they feed themselves.
Their feathers are fully developed in about 67-80 days. After leaving the nest, the cubs remain attached to the adults for another three months, then disperse and seek their own territory. They do not reach sexual maturity until they are six years old..
A Kind of “Threatened”
Each pair usually occupies a territory with extensions ranging from 20 to 200 square kilometers. And they tend to be aggressive with their ‘invasive’ brethren.
Habitat loss due to infrastructure constructions, public works or urbanization is one of the most notable threats. However, many eagles are also shot to death, poisoned, or see breeding fail due to their nests being looted or destroyed.
this exposure to electricity Both the reproduction of the adults and the dispersal of the young on the power lines cause some loss of life. Finally, ailments caused by certain human activitiesLike climbing, hiking, sport fishing or forestry work, it causes reductions in reproductive success.
One of the most recent reports of golden eagle deaths in Spain revealed that only 6% were due to unknown causes not directly attributable to human activity.
Includes golden eagle Red Book of Birds of Spain as “Threatened” and also List of Wild Species in Special Conservation Regime (Lespre).
Reference website: https://blogdeaves.com/accipitridae/eagle-real/
SEO/BirdLife golden eagle fact sheet: https://seo.org/ave/eagle-real/
Environment department contact address:[email protected]
Source: Informacion
