PRESENT STATUS AND CONSERVATION OF THE WHITE-TAILED TAILED EAGLE Haliaeetus albicilla IN CENTRAL SERBIA

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1 PRESENT STATUS AND CONSERVATION OF THE WHITE-TAILED TAILED EAGLE Haliaeetus albicilla IN CENTRAL SERBIA Bratislav GRUBAČ & Zoran MILOVANOVIĆ

3 PRESENT STATUS, DISTRIBUTION AND TREND White-tailed tailed Eagle in Central Serbia breeds mainly along major rivers (along the Danube, the lower course of the Sava, the Drina and the Tamiš). Sixteen breeding pairs (with known breeding sites or territories) have been recorded during the survey in the period The numbers of this species has been markedly increasing during the last decade.

4 Table 1: Review of findings of the white-tailed eagle breeding couples in the area of central Serbia in the present period (mainly during ). Ord. no. Locality Year Comment Data source 1. Vrbovski- the Danube 2009 Ham et al. 2009b 2. Kovilovo-centar 2009 Ham et al. 2009b 3. Kovilovo-čuvarnica 2009 Ham et al. 2009b 4. Kovilovo-Crvenka 2009 Ham et al. 2009b 5. Jojkićev dunavac Great War Island Ham et al. 2009b, S. changed place of breeding, due to Nagulov, D. Simić, Ž. disturbance (forest cutting around the nest) Stanimirović 6. Krnjača-Vi Višnjica 2009 The recorded bird in incubation Ham et al. 2009b, N Stojnić 7. Jabučki rit (Tamiš) Ham et al. 2009b 8. Hrastovača a (1) 2011 Pair (1 ad + 1 imm) no breeding; the nest Grubač B. & Z. exist since Milovanović,, G. Kostić 9. Hrastovača a juv (the pair has been breeding since the Grubač & Milovanović,, G Kostić 10. Ponikva, Golubac The pair has been regularly breeding (known from the 2002 questionnaire) Grubač & Milovanović 11. Radujevac mouth of the Timok River The pair ixists (changed place of breeding N. Stojnić,, Brandić,, V. due to cutting down of the forest where it Opricić was breeding) 12. Dobanovački zabran, Dobanovci The pair probably breeds (nest exist ) V. Bjedov, Z. Turan 13. Bojčinska forest, Progar The pair raised 1 young in 2011 (the pair has been known since 2003) G. Sekulić 14. Crni lug, Progar Probably present since 2003; bred in 2007; 1 juv 2011 S. Puzović; ; G. Sekulić 15. Crna Bara, mouth of the Drina River regularly breeding; 2 juv 2009; 2 juv 2011a B. Grubač,, survey 16. Lešnica, the Drina a regularly present pair; ; one 1 juv; 2011 has not bred B. Grubač 17. Blizonjski vis, Valjevo Appeared around 1988; the pair is absent - Raković (2003), B. Grubač, probably dissapeared during Z. Kovačevi ević

21 Table 2: Observation of the white-tailed eagle in search of food, dispersion and overpass flight (without evidence of breeding) in the present period Number of individuals/ Locality Observation date Comment Data source age 1 ad. Poreč zaliv,, NP ðerdap ; hunted for mallard and coot Grubač (1995); Grubač & Milovanović 1 ind. The Velika Morava River near the village of Šavac September,1994 high in flight S. Gafur 1 ad. Srebrno jezero January, S. Puzović 2/couple The Danube near Golubac S. Puzović 1 ind. The Velika Morava River near Svojnovo Around 20 April,1999 high in flight N. Vidojković 1 juv/imm The Danube in the vicinity of Brza Palanka January ad. Zvorničko jezero near Drinjača 4 February imm. Trešnjica Gorge near Trutinci 29 July ind/par Krivića a ada on the Drina near Loznica November 2003/4. 1 ad + 1 imm. Perućac jezero Lake Canyon of the Drina 14 th May 2005 Jelenskom stenje observed separately M. Pašić Skorić et al B. Grubač questionnaire Skorić et al ind/ad Brusnički potok - Canyon of the Drina 2006 Several times Skorić et al ind/family Gruža a jezero Lake , 2011 In forage of food M. Radaković 1-2 ad. The Drina River (Bajina Bašta - Perućac jezero In forage of food during each summer (end of Lake) July- August) M. Petrović 1 ind. The Sava River near Obrenovac May, 2007 O. Krnetić 1 ad. Perućac jezero Lake - Canyon of the Drina March, 2007 Žarko ðurić (NP Tara) 2 jed The surroundings of Ram Winter Questionnaire 1 imm. Uvac Gorge 18 and 22 May, 2008 B. Grubač 2 ind (couple) The surroundings of Dobra,, NP ðerdap 31 July, 2008 Questionnaire 1 juv /imm Blizonje Hill Dokmir December, 2008 Questionnaire 2-33 ind. Uvac jezero Lake 18th, 20th, 30th, April, 2009; 18th August and 26th M. Kurćubi ubić September, subad. Uvac jezero Lake B. Grubač 1 imm. Uvačko jezero M. Glavonjić 1 ad. Gorge of the Gradac River near Valjevo In overpass flight over the gorge O. Krnetić 2-33 ind. The Danube river bank near the confluence of the Kožica Winter period G. Žikić 1-22 ind. Confluence of the Pek River Questionnaire 1 ind. The Danube river bank (Kamenica-Velesnica) Winter Questionnaire 1 ad. Korbovska bara Winter questionnaire

23 Threats and Protection Problems degradation and loss of habitat illegal killing disturbance at nest site probably illegal poisoning and contamination by food sources possible electrocution and reduction of main food sources

24 Habitat loss and degradation are some of the greatest problems of of the protection of White-tailed tailed Eagle species in Central Serbia there is no adequate habitat protection at a large number of locations Most nests are located outside the protected areas. Felling of trees and forests is a major threat to this species. At a number of sites trees with the white-tailed tailed eagle nests have been cut in recent years (in Hrastovača a during January / February 2009; near Crna Bara in the autumn of o 2009, and the summer of 2011; near Lešnica on the Drina, twice in 2008); near Radujevac during 2008/2009 etc). Degradation of the major feeding area is potentially the greatest t threat, due to the loss of food sources and habitat fragmentation caused by the uncontrolled construction of various buildings, roads, quarries, etc.

26 Killing it is the major cause of mortality of the White-tailed tailed Eagle species in Central Serbia. Eight cases of killing of this species have been recorded during the last two decades.

27 Table 3: Mortality of the white-tailed eagle in Central Serbia Nuber of birds- Age Locality Date Comment Data source 1 adult 1 imm. 1 juv. The surroundings of Braničevo unknown (Eastern Serbia?) Padinska skela, Pančeva evački rit 1980s Cause unknown (stuffed) ( ) 90) Stuffed (possibly killed) Winter, ind. Pančeva evački rit, Višnjica April, ad. 1 adult The river bank of the Danube, between the villages of Vinci and Požeženo eno Confluence of the Timok River Winter, December, 2001 killed Killed and stuffed by a hunter Killed and stuffed Found dead (cause of death unknown) LU Braničevo from Braničevo Questionnaire Simić (1988) Simić (1988) Questionnaire LJ. Marinović.. V. Bjedov 1 ad. The surroundings of Mala Vrbica Autumn, 2007/8 Found dead probably killed by a hunter Questionnaire 1 ad. The surroundings of Veliko Petrovo Selo Winter, Bird killed by a hunter questionnaire

28 Disturbance that can lead to loss of brood or cheks and deserting of the territory ritory Relatively frequent forest logging and other activities have been en recorded around the nests of the WTE W in several locations. Movement of the couple from the location of Jojkic Dunavac to Veliko V ratno ostrvo is the result of disturbance during the forest logging in Probabaly, brood perishing (death of small young) was the result of hunting (dwelling of hunters) close to the White-tailed tailed Eagle nest in the locality near Ponikva in March 2011.

30 Nest WTE in the Jojkic Dunavac was disturbed duiring cutting forest in may 2008

31 CONSERVATION Administrative protection Habitat protection Rescue interventions concerning the captured injured and disabled birds Education Research and Monitoring Additional feeeding

32 Administrative protection The White-tailed tailed Eagle has been a protected species in Serbia since 1950 by the Law on Hunting of Serbia. According to the latest regulations from 2010, it is on the list of strictly protected species, within the Protocol on Protected and Strictly Protected Wild Species of Plants, Animals and Fungi in Serbia (the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" No. 05/2010).

34 Habitat protection There are no specially protected areas for this species in Serbia Only two nests are located within the protected areas (the nest at the location of Crna Bara was joined to the "Zasavica" SNR through purchase of land and the nest on Veliko Ratno Ostrvo. In order to protect some nests, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, in cooperation with the hunting associations from Valjevo, Braničevo and Lešnica organized periodical monitoring and protection of the White-tailed tailed Eagle nests, in the areas of Blizonjski Vis, Ponikve near Golubac and the vicinity of Lešnica. Furthermore, the Institute in collaboration with PE-Serbian Forests began recording of all known nests and preparation of their protection (in Hrastovača and other locations).

37 Rescue interventions concerning the captured injured and disabled birds Regular rescue activities concerning the captured injured or disabled White-tailed tailed Eagle individuals are performed by the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia in cooperation with other organizations and institutions. The Institute has carried out several such actions over the last decade. Three young birds which fell out of their nest were released back k to nature after recovery in the period. One young bird was found upon falling out of the nest in a forest near the village of Ponikva on June 5th Then, the young bird was released near the nest on July 2nd After a few days, the family f (adults and the released young bird) were observed flying around the nest together.

40 Education There are a number of popular articles published on the White-tailed tailed Eagle protection over the past two decades in Serbia. The "Natura" center from Valjevo published 1000 copies of a leaflet with the aim to protect this species in While releasing the white-tailed tailed eagle young bird in the area of Ponikva (near Golubac) during July 2008, a short TV documentary was filmed and shown on the national TV newtwork RTS in the aim of education.

42 Research and Monitoring the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia carried out a project theme "Monitoring and Protection of the White-tailed tailed Eagle in Serbia" in the period The results of these studies and work are generally presented in this report. It is planned for this project to be intensified in the coming period p in order to monitor the entire species situation and take all necessary protection measures to preserve and increase its population.

44 Additional feeeding There are six feeding stations intended for vultures and necrofagous birds in the territory of Central Serbia that have regularly or occasionally worked in recent years. The presence of the White-tailed tailed Eagle feeding in these feeding stations has rarely been recorded (in gorge Uvac, September 2009). S. Skorić reported that the feeding station of the White-tailed tailed Eagle at the locality Petrohemija near Pančevo started to operate in early 2007.

Serbia and Montenegro (SCG)

168 Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) Milan PAUNOVIC & Miroljub MILENKOVIC Area: 102 350 km² Forests & Woodland: 28.3 % (2000) Human population: 10 667 290 (2001) Population density: 104.3 / km² 1. Lynx distribution