<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this work we assess the data on the food of the Imperial Eagle (<italic>Aquila heliaca</italic>) in two separate nesting populations: one in Western Slovakia (21 pairs), the other in Eastern Slovakia (30 pairs). In Western Slovakia between 1978 and 2005 we recorded a total of 562 food items, consisting of 33 species of animal. The species predominantly featuring in the food were the brown hare <italic>Lepus europaeus </italic>(40.2%), common pheasant <italic>Phasianus</italic><italic>colchicus </italic>(17.3%), feral pigeon <italic>Columba livia domestica </italic>(11.7%) and the common hamster <italic>Cricetus cricetus</italic> (11.6%). In Eastern Slovakia between 1971 and 2005 we identified a total of 524 food items, made up of 30 animal species with slightly varying predominance of the same principal kinds of prey: <italic>L. europaeus </italic>(29.0%), <italic>C. cricetus</italic> (27.7%), <italic>P. colchicus </italic>(8.4%) and <italic>Columba </italic>sp. (8.2%). Imperial Eagles nesting in Slovakia are affected by the consequences of a marked reduction in population density of steppe-type rodents, especially ground squirrels (<italic>Spermophilus citellus</italic>) and hamsters (<italic>C. cricetus</italic>) and have become dependent for their food mainly on the prevalence of other small animals (<italic>L. europaeus</italic>, <italic>P. colchicus</italic>) and pigeons (<italic>C. livia domestica</italic>). Pairs nesting in neighbouring Hungary had similar prey, but a different order of predominance of the species (Haraszthy et al. 1996): <italic>C. cricetus </italic>(51.0%), <italic>L. europaeus </italic>(12.0%), <italic>P. colchicus </italic>(11.6%) and <italic>S. citellus </italic>(7.4%).</p></abstract>

In this work we assess the data on the food of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in two separate nesting populations: one in Western Slovakia (21 pairs), the other in Eastern Slovakia (30 pairs). In Western Slovakia between 1978 and 2005 we recorded a total of 562 food items, consisting of 33 species of animal. The species predominantly featuring in the food were the brown hare Lepus europaeus (40.2%), common pheasant Phasianuscolchicus (17.3%), feral pigeon Columba livia domestica (11.7%) and the common hamster Cricetus cricetus (11.6%). In Eastern Slovakia between 1971 and 2005 we identified a total of 524 food items, made up of 30 animal species with slightly varying predominance of the same principal kinds of prey: L. europaeus (29.0%), C. cricetus (27.7%), P. colchicus (8.4%) and Columba sp. (8.2%). Imperial Eagles nesting in Slovakia are affected by the consequences of a marked reduction in population density of steppe-type rodents, especially ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) and hamsters (C. cricetus) and have become dependent for their food mainly on the prevalence of other small animals (L. europaeus, P. colchicus) and pigeons (C. livia domestica). Pairs nesting in neighbouring Hungary had similar prey, but a different order of predominance of the species (Haraszthy et al. 1996): C. cricetus (51.0%), L. europaeus (12.0%), P. colchicus (11.6%) and S. citellus (7.4%).

The Food of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Slovakia

Ochrana dravcov na Slovensku, Svätoplukova 1, SK-841 02 Bratislava, Slovakia. www.dravce.sk

Zemplínske múzeum, Kostolné námestie 1, SK-071 01 Michalovce, Slovakia

Botanická záhrada Univerzity Komenského, SK-038 15 Blatnica, Slovakia

Buzulucká 23, SK-040 01 Košice, Slovakia

Raptor Journal

{"article-title":"The Food of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Slovakia"}

In this work we assess the data on the food of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in two separate nesting populations: one in Western Slovakia (21 pairs), the...

The Food of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Slovakia

Data publikacji: 09 lis 2012

Zakres stron: 1 - 18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10262-012-0001-y

Słowa kluczowe
Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca, food, Slovakia

This content is open access.

The Food of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Slovakia

Data publikacji: 09 lis 2012

Zakres stron: 1 - 18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10262-012-0001-y

Słowa kluczoweImperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca, food, Slovakia

This content is open access.

Słowa kluczowe
Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca, food, Slovakia