The suburban forest as a habitat of eagles (Accipitridae): a case study in Gunung Bromo University Forest, Karanganyar, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Eagles (Accipitridae) are sensitive to environmental disturbance such as fragmented environment. This study was aimed to describe the forest in Gunung Bromo as a habitat of the eagles. The research method used was the case study, habitat observation, monitoring presence of eagles, and literature review. Gunung Bromo University Forest is totally fragmented suburban forest with four types of habitat such as oligoculture forest, mixed forest, cropland and riverstream. Two species of eagles were found in the area namely Nisaetus cirrhatus and Spilornis cheela. Potential prey for the eagles found in the area was six species of snakes, eight species of amphibians, five species of lizards, 32 species of birds, and three species of small mammals. Inactive eagle’s nest was also found, and the shape of nest is a big circle with neat plaits created from branches placed in the upper canopy of Bombax ceiba tree. The nest presumed to be used by N. cirrhatus. The study also noted the competitor namely Artamus leucorynchus which often aggressively mobbing the eagles when soaring. Gunung Bromo University Forest was a good habitat for eagles, although it was fragmented. It provided four different habitats, diverse preys, and nesting site. Threats for conservation of eagles in the forest were illegal hunter and noise from visitors’ motocross.