Golden eagle monitoring in the territory of Chikoi National Park
Various species of mammals and birds are being researched in the Chikoi National Park in the Transbaikal Territory. But, according to local residents, not all of them. Among the exceptions is the golden eagle, the largest bird of prey, whose population is small and listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. The hypothesis of the golden eagle’s habitat in the territory of the national park needed confirmation.
In 2022, the golden eagle scientific monitoring project led by Dmitry Anatolyevich Boldyrev, M.Sc. of Chikoi National Park, won the grant programme for the conservation of rare, endangered and endemic species of the Baikal natural area.
Goal of the project:
To establish the fact of golden eagle habitat in the territory of Chikoi National Park, to determine the number of nesting pairs and to create conditions for their nesting, monitoring and protection.
In 2022-2023 was done:
- Conducted a survey of residents and national park staff about the presence of golden eagles. Based on the results of the survey, information was obtained on the presence of large birds of prey, including golden eagles, in the territory of the National Park and adjacent lands. Information was obtained on the location of golden eagle nests on the Atsa and Derbul rivers.
- In April and May 2022, about 100,000 ha of the park territory were surveyed (15%).
- Boat rafting and field work was carried out in new areas: from Shumilovsky cordon to Shebety Lake, in the Derbul River basin, ridges along the banks of the Atsa River. The total length of the routes covered was at least 70 kilometres.
- Twelve camera traps for bird monitoring were installed at the new sites.
- To attract pairs of golden eagles to the territory of the National Park, a platform was installed as a base for nesting. A camera trap was also installed near the platform for observation.
- A plan for monitoring and researching golden eagles and other birds of prey in future years in the territory of the National Park was developed.
- Two scientific articles were published, the results of the project were reported at scientific and practical conferences and illustrated in photo exhibitions.
Main scientific conclusions of the project:
- Golden eagles inhabit the territory of the Chikoi National Park. At least two different pairs of golden eagles were recorded using camera traps and cameras.
- Peculiarities of settlement and behaviour of golden eagles give grounds for scientists to make assumptions that 3-4 more pairs of birds live on the territory of the national park.
Due to the reduction in the number of ungulates hunted by golden eagles, the forage base of birds of prey has also significantly decreased. In this regard, the role of the National Park as a territory where the natural habitat of both golden eagles and their potential victims – ungulates – is preserved is increasing.
Monitoring of golden eagles will continue after the end of the project. Previously, no special attention was paid to this small and rare bird, but thanks to the project implementation, regular monitoring of large birds of prey, including the golden eagle, was included in the work programme of the scientific department of the Chikoi National Park.