I create this thread to occasionaly post updates on population trend of Golden Eagle in Western Carpathian mountain range (Central-East Europe). It´s based on published census data.
Population of Golden Eagles breeding in this area is restricted to mountains and hilly terrain between 400 and 1700 meters asl. Adults have their stable territories while immature birds are floaters and can stray several hundred km into lowlands. Pairs nest usually on trees (60-90%) and steep rocks. Average density is 0,5 pair per 100 km2 now and very slowly rising. Kainism is strong, only 2-4% of second hatched chicks survive and fledge. Consumed food is varied and highly oportunistic because their favourite prey species either never lived here or their populations crashed to near extinction. Birds make around 30-50% of diet - singing birds (Turdus), buzzards, corvidae, owls, pigeons. Deer carcasses are important source (road kill, wolf and lynx victims), also martens, house cats, foxes and squirrels. And snakes. Marmots and chamois live in only tiny part of eagle range, but where they live, they make majority of diet.
Survey results of breeding territorial pairs in 2022 season:
Poland - 30 kept territories, 10 chicks fledged (number of additional undetected pairs is probably low)
Slovakia - 102 territories detected, ? chicks fledged (estimated total number of pairs is 140)
Hungary - 3 territories kept, 3 chicks fledged (no hidden pairs, monitoring is water-tight)
Czech republic - 3 breeding territories, +2 suspected, 2 chicks fledged
Ukraine - no survey that I could find, but eagles breed in their part of Carpathians
= minimal population count is 138 pairs, estimated total 180-200 (without Ukraine)
If we look at historical surveys, 10 years ago, numbers were as follows:
Poland - 28 pairs
Slovakia - 94 pairs
Hungary - 3 pairs
Czechia - zero
= minimal population was 125 pairs
The population is slowly extending its range towards west and also increasing density at glacial speed (1 - 2 pairs per year).
Population of Golden Eagles breeding in this area is restricted to mountains and hilly terrain between 400 and 1700 meters asl. Adults have their stable territories while immature birds are floaters and can stray several hundred km into lowlands. Pairs nest usually on trees (60-90%) and steep rocks. Average density is 0,5 pair per 100 km2 now and very slowly rising. Kainism is strong, only 2-4% of second hatched chicks survive and fledge. Consumed food is varied and highly oportunistic because their favourite prey species either never lived here or their populations crashed to near extinction. Birds make around 30-50% of diet - singing birds (Turdus), buzzards, corvidae, owls, pigeons. Deer carcasses are important source (road kill, wolf and lynx victims), also martens, house cats, foxes and squirrels. And snakes. Marmots and chamois live in only tiny part of eagle range, but where they live, they make majority of diet.
Survey results of breeding territorial pairs in 2022 season:
Poland - 30 kept territories, 10 chicks fledged (number of additional undetected pairs is probably low)
Slovakia - 102 territories detected, ? chicks fledged (estimated total number of pairs is 140)
Hungary - 3 territories kept, 3 chicks fledged (no hidden pairs, monitoring is water-tight)
Czech republic - 3 breeding territories, +2 suspected, 2 chicks fledged
Ukraine - no survey that I could find, but eagles breed in their part of Carpathians
= minimal population count is 138 pairs, estimated total 180-200 (without Ukraine)
If we look at historical surveys, 10 years ago, numbers were as follows:
Poland - 28 pairs
Slovakia - 94 pairs
Hungary - 3 pairs
Czechia - zero
= minimal population was 125 pairs
The population is slowly extending its range towards west and also increasing density at glacial speed (1 - 2 pairs per year).