The Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagles in the Center of European Russia

Abstract

This article presents new data on the number and distribution of the Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagles (Aquila clanga and A. pomarina) in 9 regions located in the central part of European Russia. The area under surveys is 415,900 km2. The results of surveys carried out in the Nizhny Novgorod region (76,900 km2) in 2014-2020 allow us to characterize the level of underestimation of the Greater Spotted Eagle in the region in previous periods, as well as estimate the degree of knowledge of the species in adjacent regions and calculate the probable number of the Greater Spotted Eagle in the study area (about 500 breeding pairs). In the central part of the Russian Plain, the important areas for the Great Spotted Eagle have been identified, which are very significant for the species conservation. The activities to protect the Greater Spotted Eagle are discussed. They should combine the establishment of protected areas and regulation of nature management aimed at the conservation of breeding habitats. The Lesser Spotted Eagle expanding its home range rapidly to the east has been shown. The relevance, great theoretical and practical significance of the study of the Lesser Spotted Eagle population, developing in the center of European Russia has been demonstrated.