<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In 2011–201 4 monitoring of the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) breeding population was conducted in eight
special protection areas in Slovakia. From a total of 272 successful breeding attempts by 1 49 breeding pairs during 4 breeding
seasons 277 young birds were fledged. The average reproductive success ratio was thus 0.51 juv./pair present, 0.69 juv./breeding
pair and 1 .37 juv./1 00 km2. In the surveyed period a total of 1 51 protection zones were established around the nests in 11 9 breeding
territories, which provided protection for 1 7% of the breeding population of the lesser spotted eagle in Slovakia. By testing
the effectiveness of protection zones it was determined that in nests with an established protection zone the probability of successful
raising of young is higher in comparison with nests without such a zone. The probability that breeding will be successful in the
nests of breeding pairs without a protection zone was 48.1% (95% confidence intervals (CIs): 37.4–59.0%), and in nests with
a protection zone 64.8% (95% CIs: 59.8–69.6%). Among the five most frequent nest tree species used by A. pomarina in Slovakia
for breeding are Picea abies 61 × (28.4%), Pinus sylvestris 45× (20.9%), Quercus sp. 36× (1 6.7%), Fagus sylvatica 25× (11 .6%)
and Abies alba 1 8× (8.4%). Among the rarer nest tree species used are Larix decidua 1 2× (5.6%) and Alnus glutinosa 3× (1 .4%),
while a further 11 species of nest trees did not achieve even 1%. The highest number of nest trees (n = 21 5), i.e. 34 nests (1 5.8%),
was found in the altitude range of 401–450 m a.s.l. and 29 nests (1 3.5%) at 351–400 m a.s.l. Other altitude zones were all below
the 1 0% mark. A total of 54% of nests found (11 6 nests) are located in the altitude zone of 301–600 m a.s.l., and 71 nests (33%)
in the zone 600–900 m a.s.l. The lowest situated nest was at an altitude of 1 50 m and the highest at 950 m; the average was
595.01 m a.s.l. The highest number of nests (n = 209) were located on trees in a range 1 5.1–20.0 m above the ground (n = 92,
44%), while the lowest nest found was at a height of 5 m and the highest at 30 m above the ground.</p></abstract>

In 2011–201 4 monitoring of the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) breeding population was conducted in eight
special protection areas in Slovakia. From a total of 272 successful breeding attempts by 1 49 breeding pairs during 4 breeding
seasons 277 young birds were fledged. The average reproductive success ratio was thus 0.51 juv./pair present, 0.69 juv./breeding
pair and 1 .37 juv./1 00 km2. In the surveyed period a total of 1 51 protection zones were established around the nests in 11 9 breeding
territories, which provided protection for 1 7% of the breeding population of the lesser spotted eagle in Slovakia. By testing
the effectiveness of protection zones it was determined that in nests with an established protection zone the probability of successful
raising of young is higher in comparison with nests without such a zone. The probability that breeding will be successful in the
nests of breeding pairs without a protection zone was 48.1% (95% confidence intervals (CIs): 37.4–59.0%), and in nests with
a protection zone 64.8% (95% CIs: 59.8–69.6%). Among the five most frequent nest tree species used by A. pomarina in Slovakia
for breeding are Picea abies 61 × (28.4%), Pinus sylvestris 45× (20.9%), Quercus sp. 36× (1 6.7%), Fagus sylvatica 25× (11 .6%)
and Abies alba 1 8× (8.4%). Among the rarer nest tree species used are Larix decidua 1 2× (5.6%) and Alnus glutinosa 3× (1 .4%),
while a further 11 species of nest trees did not achieve even 1%. The highest number of nest trees (n = 21 5), i.e. 34 nests (1 5.8%),
was found in the altitude range of 401–450 m a.s.l. and 29 nests (1 3.5%) at 351–400 m a.s.l. Other altitude zones were all below
the 1 0% mark. A total of 54% of nests found (11 6 nests) are located in the altitude zone of 301–600 m a.s.l., and 71 nests (33%)
in the zone 600–900 m a.s.l. The lowest situated nest was at an altitude of 1 50 m and the highest at 950 m; the average was
595.01 m a.s.l. The highest number of nests (n = 209) were located on trees in a range 1 5.1–20.0 m above the ground (n = 92,
44%), while the lowest nest found was at a height of 5 m and the highest at 30 m above the ground.

Reproductive success, selected nest characteristics and the effectiveness of establishing
protection zones of the lesser spotted eagle (<italic>Aquila pomarina</italic>)
population in Slovakia

Raptor Protection of Slovakia, Kuklovská 5, SK–841 04
Bratislava, Slovakia

Raptor Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Reproductive success, selected nest characteristics and the effectiveness of establishing
protection zones of the lesser spotted eagle ()
population in Slovakia

In 2011–201 4 monitoring of the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) breeding population was conducted in eight
special protection areas in Slovakia. From a...

Reproductive success, selected nest characteristics and the effectiveness of establishing protection zones of the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) population in Slovakia

Published Online: Jun 30, 2015

Page range: 127 - 145

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/srj-2015-0010

Keywords
breeding, nests, nest trees, altitude, orographic units, buffer zones, conservation

© by Karol Šotnár

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Reproductive success, selected nest characteristics and the effectiveness of establishing protection zones of the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) population in Slovakia

Published Online: Jun 30, 2015

Page range: 127 - 145

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/srj-2015-0010

Keywordsbreeding, nests, nest trees, altitude, orographic units, buffer zones, conservation

© by Karol Šotnár

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
breeding, nests, nest trees, altitude, orographic units, buffer zones, conservation