Wind power development in Eastern Kazakhstan threatens migration of eagles

On the basis of data obtained from ARGOS/GPS and GPS/GSM tracking of 34 eagles (4 Steppe Eagles (Aquila nipalensis) from Central KZ, 1 Steppe Eagle from Southern Ural region, 22 Steppe Eagles, 5 Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) from the ASR and 2 Greater Spotted Eagles (Aquila clanga) from the from the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion), we have defined the main flyways, terms, and other parameters of migration of eagles through Eastern Kazakhstan. We have outlined the borders of the migration corridor and estimate the number of migrants passing through it. The study highlights the importance of the Karatau ridge for eagles from the vast territories of Russia and Kazakhstan. But we are also concerned about the development of wind farms with horizontal-axis wind turbines that expose ultimate danger for raptors in the Karatau migration corridor. One of them already exists – the Zhanatas Wind-Power Station. Here we calculated the possible negative impact on the eagle population from the existing and projected wind farms of the Karatau ridge and give our recommendations for neutralizing the damage from the development of the electric power industry in Karatau.

Review of deaths and behavior of large birds of prey on power grid facilities in Tatarstan and Udmurtia (Russia), problems of modernization of 6–10 kV overhead power lines

The report analyzes the deaths of large birds of prey on power grid facilities of Tatarstan previously published in the literature since 2012 and additional ones, identified since 2019, including in the neighboring region – Udmurt Republic. Analysis of the data shows that immature Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) up to 3 years old (n=11) died on the 6–10 kV power lines dangerous for birds. The percentage of fledglings that died near breeding territories after leaving their nests was 81.8% (n=9); one bird died in its second year of life and one bird died in its third year. The death of fledglings was identified in 8 breeding areas (in one of them twice), which is 3.9% of all known breeding areas of the Imperial Eagle in Tatarstan by the end of 2021 (n=205) and about 7.2% of 111 breeding areas in 16 administrative districts of southeastern Tatarstan where oil production is taking place. Two out of six fledglings, for which a time interval of death was established, died in the second half of August, and 2 eagles also died in the first and second halves of September. Distances from precisely known nests to locations where the fledglings died ranged from 0.26 to 11.7 km, 2.56 km on average (n=7). In 57.1% of cases deaths occurred at distances less than 1 km (from 260 to 600 m), and in 28.6% of cases at distances from 2 to 3 km. Observations of the behavior of imperial eagles in breeding grounds show a certain selectivity, namely avoidance of the most dangerous power lines. Adaptation of imperial eagles to the electric grid environment continues – 3 new breeding territories on the electric poles of high-voltage power lines were found. Two cases of death of immature White-Tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) were identified on 6–10 kV power lines dangerous for birds deep in the forestland on narrow forest cleared strips in Tatarstan and Udmurtia, as well as the Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) in Udmurtia. Illegal exploitation and even construction of new 6–10 kV power lines dangerous for birds continues. Despite the measures taken to protect birds from death in the electric grid environment, the rate and quality of these measures are such that in the near future power lines will have a negative impact on eagles in the native area as they do now.

Functional zoning of the Sanarsky State Nature Complex Reserve of the Chelyabinsk region by the method of decoding aerial photographs

The article provides data on the Sanarsky nature reserve in the Chelyabinsk region. A map-diagram for the functional zoning of the reserve is proposed. It provides the information on the negative factors affecting the reserve such as forest fires, commercial and hobby hunting, the Chelyabinsk — Magnitogorsk motorway which divides the territory of the reserve into two parts. The analysis of the probable habitat of 10 vertebrate species has been carried out. The article presents a biological description and ecology features of animals listed in the Red Book and living on the territory of the reserve, including one species of amphibians — Siberian salamander (Salamandrella keyserlingii Dybowski, 1870), one species of snakes of the genus Copperheads, the family of snakes — smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768), four species of birds, two of the hawk family — the Pale Harrier (Circus macrourus SG Gmelin, 1770) and the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos L., 1758) — the largest eagle and the Owl (Bubo bubo L., 1758) from the owl family; two species from the order bats — Brandt’s Moth (Myotis brandtii Eversmann, 1845) and Woodbat (Pipistrellus nathusii Keyserling & Blasius, 1839); one species of the Lagomorph family — the Steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla) and one species from the Jerboa family — the Great Jerboa (Allactaga major Kerr, 1792). It has been established that within the reserve three functional zones can be distinguished such as a recreation zone, an economic zone, a specially protected zone. On this basis, a map-diagram of the functional zoning of the Sanarsky State Natural Complex Reserve has been developed.

Treatment of extremity fractures in 20 wild birds with a modified Meynard external fixator and clinical assessment of the results

The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of the treatment on twenty wild birds presenting with fractures that were stabilised with modified Meynard external fixators. The study material consisted of a total of twenty birds of eight different species, six white storks (Ciconia ciconia), one eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), one European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), one long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus), three common buzzard (Buteo buteo), one northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), one Armenian gull (Larus armenicus), and six yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis), which were diagnosed with fractures in their extremity bones following clinical and radiological examinations. The lesions of the twenty cases evaluated in the study were diagnosed as humerus fractures in nine cases, ulna fractures in three cases, tibiotarsus fractures in seven cases and a femur fracture in one case. The external fixators were removed between weeks five and nine postoperatively. While healing was seen in twelve of the twenty evaluated cases, the complete functional recovery occurred in six of these and they were released into nature. It was concluded that modified Meynard external fixator, which was made applicable for fractures in birds, could be an alternative method for fracture treatments in wild birds.

Main mortality factors for the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809) in Bulgaria

The Eastern Imperial Eagle is a globally threatened species, represented with not more than 35–40 pairs in Bulgaria. As a facultative scavenger feeding on carcasses and parts of dead domestic and wild animals, this species is extremely vulnerable to poisonous baits and toxic agents, intentionally or accidentally set up in its food. The present study identified electrocution and poisoning as the main mortality factors for the eagles in Bulgaria. We analysed a total of 56 cases among which 44 cases were related to the mortality of non-territorial eagles in different age classes, and we found 12 dead or distressed territorial birds recorded between 1992–2019. The main mortality factor was electrocution, accounted for 30.4% of fatalities. The poisoning was the cause of mortality in 12.5% of the non-territorial and 10.7% of the breeding birds. Some of the cases were laboratory confirmed as intoxication, while the others, based on the history, clinical symptoms and field evidence, indicated poisoning. The most commonly used toxic agents were anticholinesterase’s inhibitors. As a result of a timely therapy applied to the live birds found in distress with symptoms of poisoning, six eagles were successfully treated and released back in the wild. We found that mortality of eagles depended on the age of birds, breeding or dispersal grounds, while season had no significant effect.