Death of eagle puts the focus on plight of species

The recent death in a snare in Mozambique of one of the few martial eagles left in the Kruger National Park (KNP) has put the plight of these rare kings of the air into perspective, reports Lowvelder.

Martial eagles are the continent’s largest eagle. This bird species is one of the defining ones of the African savannah.

The mortality of martial eagles has drastically increased in recent years. In 2013 a 60% decline across South Africa was reported. In the KNP, which is generally considered to be a stronghold of the species, there has been a drop in numbers of up to 54%.

The 4.6kg female was the star of a recent documentary film, Fierce, that aired on the BBC.

Researchers on a project monitoring martial eagles in the KNP, Rowen van Eeden and Dr Arjun Amar of the Percy Fitzpatrick  Ornithological Institute at UCT, went in search of the eagle when  the GPS-collared bird’s movements showed an abnormal pattern.

The eagle’s carcass was found in a snare set by subsistence  hunters. It was thought that the bird had come down to pounce on an impala caught in the trap. “Maybe this was a sad case of  curiosity,” said Amar.

Concerns regarding the conservation status of martial eagles compelled Van Eeden to commence his Masters degree in 2013 to understand what might be driving the changes in population figures of these birds in the Kruger. He is also set out to research their nesting success.

To this end, six adults and nine juveniles have been fitted with GPS collars in the park.

The KNP can carry 127 to 216 pairs. One of the factors that might lead to martial eagles leaving the park, is that the tree cover has declined by 60%. Adult birds need high tree cover.

Once they leave, the eagles are exposed to risks. Van Eeden discovered that two of the adults which were fitted with transmitters and left the park, had been killed. As they frequently make their nests on pylons, they are often electrocuted.

“They regularly come into contact with power lines, although this is a double-edged sword for them. Many birds are electrocuted on these lines, but the latter are also needed as structures to build their nests on, in environments where suitable nesting trees are sparse,” explained Amar.

Inside the park two eagles recently died in a fight.

Arjun asked the public to assist in their research by letting them know about any sightings of martial eagles in the KNP on martialeaglesightings@gmail.com. It can also be logged onto the birdlasser tool that twitchers use.

– Caxton News Service