Imperial eagle in Austria: A success story of bird protection!

Imperial eagle in Austria: A success story of bird protection!

The fascinating return of the imperial eagle to Austria is an impressive example of successful species protection. The nature and bird protection organization BirdLife Austria has been actively supporting this globally threatened species since 1999. With the help of GPS transmitters attached to more than 50 young birds, the life stories of these majestic birds are transformed into exciting documentation. Experts have found that imperial eagles' journeys depend on personal characteristics: While some birds fly to Greece in the winter months, others spend their time in the local wine region. These individual trips are not only important for research, but also highlight the dangerous challenges the eagles face, such as illegal persecution by humans. The shooting down of Artemisia, which flew over half of Europe and had many fans, was particularly tragic, as Matthias Schmidt from BirdLife Austria reported.

The return of these majestic birds of prey is not only a success story, but also poses serious challenges. According to Gábor Wichmann from BirdLife Austria, there are currently only around 50 breeding pairs in Austria and the population is still relatively fragile. “Despite the positive developments, such as the successful breeding of Esperanza, which has already raised nine young birds, the imperial eagle remains endangered.” Threats from illegal hunting and the expansion of wind turbines pose significant risks for these animals. That is why BirdLife Austria will continue to do everything in its power to fight for the protection and preservation of the imperial eagle.

Spanish Imperial Eagle: A Comparable Threat

In parallel with the efforts to protect the Austrian imperial eagle, the Spanish imperial eagle, which is only slightly smaller than its Austrian relative with a body size of around 80 cm and a wingspan of around two meters, is also endangered. Its distribution is limited to small areas in the southwest of Spain and, since 2003, again in Portugal. Loud Focus on nature Only 11 to 18 pairs bred there in 2013. With comparable threats from human activities and habitat loss, it can be seen that the protection and conservation of these majestic birds across national borders is of immense importance.