White-tailed eagle

(Haliaeetus albicilla)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 2020: 43-60 pairs (2007: 30-50 pairs)

Distribution pattern

Breeds mainly on the Danube islands, the southeastern part of the country (mostly in the valleys of the Tundzha and Arda rivers), the Black Sea coast (the forests around the Kamchia River and the Burgas wetlands), as well as around some larger inland dams (Zhrebchevo, Pyasachnik, Tsonevo, Ovcharitsa, Rozov Kladenets, Trakiets, Studen Kladenets, Ivaylovgrad, and Koprinka). In the last ten years is observed a tendency the species to occupy new territories in the Upper Thracian Plain, where they breed in open habitats, sometimes far from large water bodies.

Population estimation for the period 2013 – 2020: During the period 2013-2020, the species has not been established in 10 squares, where it was found before the year 2013. On the one hand, some of the habitats have greatly deteriorated explaining the disappearance, but on the other hand, the exact breeding sites of the species located in adjacent squares has to be established. New habitats have been established in 41 squares. Most visible is the increase of breeding pairs of sea eagles in the region of Southeastern Bulgaria.

Population size in Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000: 22-26 pairs. (43-61% of the population). Approximately half of the breeding population of the species does not fall within the boundaries of Special Protection Areas. The highest numbers have been registered in the SPAs “Mandra-Poda Complex” (3 pairs) and “Belene Islands Complex” (2 pairs).

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds in various types of habitats, including mainly wetlands (valleys of large rivers, lakes, marshes, dams, fishponds, etc.), rich in food (fish and waterfowl), but sometimes breeds in agrocenoses, far from water sources, feeding on alternative prey (hedgehogs, rabbits, etc.). Builds its nests predominantly on tall white poplar trees Populus Alba in riverine and marsh forests and brush on the islands of the River Danube and around the big coastal lakes. In the Eastern Rhodopes, at some sites along the Black Sea, and in the interior of the country the breeding sites are located in broad–leaved deciduous forests.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Threats

Deterioration, degradation and damage of breeding and feeding habitats, disturbance during the breeding season (including logging), poaching, conflict with the Lessees of dams caused by damage to fish farms, lead poisoning and poisoning by poisonous baits for predators, etc.

Svilen Chesmedjiev, Dimitar Demerdzhiev