Circaetus gallicus information navigator

We offer you the summary (En) of the following article dedicated to sexing of Short-toed Eagle and Common Buzzard nestlings:

• Jalby V., Malafosse J. P., Nore T. et Wink M., 2012 – Détermination, par la biométrie, du sexe des poussins chez deux espèces de rapaces Circaetus gallicus et Buteo buteo. Comparaison avec les Autours des palombes Accipiter gentilis et les Buses variables adultes [Nestling sexing by biometric and molecular analysis in two diurnal raptors, Circaetus gallicus and Buteo buteo. Comparison with the Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and adult Buzzards] // Alauda, 80 (3): 187-202.

The biometric data on Short-toed Eagle nestlings were collected by Jean-Pierre Malafosse in Cévennes National Park /map/.

A story of life and death of one Short-toed Eagle ringed by Francesco Petretti in Western Central Italy /map/ in 1989 is represented below:

The eagle was born on the 18^th of May 1989 in Tolfa Hills, 40 km north of Rome. The parental pair built the nest on a very large deciduous oak tree covered with ivy on the north facing slope of the hill, at 400 metres of altitude.

On the 27^th of June 1989 P0845 reached the maximum weight of 1,800 grams, then the weight decreased, as it is usual among fledging eagles in the study area, and on the 17^th of July, when the eagle left the nest, she weighed 1,680 grams. She was fitted with a backpack radio for ground telemetry and moved within the home range for a couple of months. Contact with her was lost on the 20^th of September 1989, when the eagle probably left the area to reach the wintering ground in Africa.

On the 16^th of September 2012 the body of P0845 was found dead at a distance of only 9 km from the ringing site. The body was brought to the Raptor Center in Vico Lake Nature Reserve, but death causes are unknown. P0845 was at least 23 years and 4 months old and I suppose this is a longevity record for the species.

This is the next annual report on results of a long-term study of Short-toed Eagle in Cévennes National Park /map/:

• Jean-Pierre et Isabelle MALAFOSSE, 2012 – Le Circaète Jean-le-Blanc, résultats pour 2012. Suivi des Rapaces forestiers en Lozère et dans le Parc National des Cévennes [Short-toed Eagle, results for 2012. Monitoring of Raptors in Lozère and in the Cévennes National Park], rapport interne C.R.B.P.O./ P.N.C.: 12 p. – (Fr) {rough translation}.

This video made by Guilad Friedemann illustrates well fieldwork of Israeli researchers. Guilad studies interspecific relationships between Short-toed Eagles and Long-legged Buzzards in the Judean Foothills /map/. For this purpose several buzzards and eagles were tagged with special GPS loggers which provide an unique methodology of the tracking.