The nesting area of 186

by B. Meyburg, A. Spalton, F. Al Lamki and Mike McGrady

Russian and Kazakh colleagues working on the breeding grounds of Steppe Eagles have sent the pictures below of nests in the area around where 186 is nesting,  We are hoping that one of them might be able to make a visit to the nesting area a little later this summer.

Steppe eagle nest in western Kazakhstan in 2010 (A. Barashcova).

Two Steppe eagle chicks at a nest built on the remains of a man-made structure in 2010 (A. Barashkova).

A "typical" Steppe eagle nest in the vicinity of the nesting by 186 in 2004 (I. Karyakin)

186 has been nesting

by A. Spalton, F. Al Lamki, B. Meyburg, M. McGrady

Well the female Steppe eagle with the transmitter 186 appears to have taken stay at home advice seriously.  After about 40 days of no transmissions, it turned up and dumped some data, suggesting that it is a breeding bird and has spent much of that time sitting on a nest.  186 was already an adult when we caught her in 2019 at Raysut.  Below is a map of data from 29 April - 15 May.  You can see that 186 stayed mostly within about 2 km of its nest.  Only recent behaviour (perhaps ranging away from the nest or soaring higher) has allowed the logger to transmit its data to the GSM network.

It is likely that other eagles that have "disappeared" in recent weeks have simply been breeding in remote areas with no GSM coverage.  We hope to hear from them soon!

Location of likely nesting territory of an adult female Steppe eagle (186) in May 2020.

Ranging of a adult female Steppe eagle (186) during 29 April - 15 May 2020.