Featured post

Zur aktuellen Situation des Schwarzstorchs im Fichtelgebirge (Oberfranken)

Brutmännchen "Torres" bewacht seinen Nachwuchs an einem traditionellen Brutplatz im Zentrum des Fichtelgebirges. Der Bursche wurde...

Friday, August 30, 2013

Lesser Spotted Eagle (LSE) season 2013 - incalculable risks by tagged LSE with satellite transmitter (fitting methods)


The LSE male with the name "Hercules" is hardworking with the procurement of small mammals - 21 August 2013.
"Hercules" in his "hiding-place" - 29 August 2013.
A successful hunting - 29 August 2013.
"Hercules" flying with a mouse back to his young Eagle "Frederic" - 30 July 2013.
The nice "Frederic" waiting of the mouse.... 28 August 2013.
Three weeks earlier... - 04 August 2013.
"Hercules" again and again in action... - 
Part 1 - Sitting in the leafy canopy - view like a Short-toed-Eagle... - 26 August 2013.
Part 2 - or sitting during the evening - 28 August 2013.
And here is "Peggy" the mom of "Frederic" in the morning mist - 21 August 2013.
Note the tagged "Peggy" with the satellite transmitter at back (since August 2012) - 29 August 2013.
"Peggy" go hunting..... - 20 August 2013.
"Hercules" face to face.... - 20 August 2013.
Note the long feathered tarsus - typical of this species - 26 August 2013.
"Hercules" hunting during the nice evening light - 28 August 2013.
Note the powerful claws - 26 August 2013.
"Hercules" just before hunting the mouse - 21 August 2013.
2013 was a very bad LSE-year in my region (district Rostock, province Gnoien) - only 3 pairs with breeding success. 
  • Between 1990 and 2013 the territory pairs varied from 10 to 17 LSE-pairs (average 13 pairs). 
  • The reproduction was highest in the last 24 years in 1999 and 2010 with 10 juv.
LSE-pair hunting together (top the female) - 16 August 2013.
The LSE-female fixed their prey - 16 August 2013.
A problem in my eyes are tagged LSE with satellite transmitter. I will briefly mention some of this...
  • the scientific evolution is indisputable
  • but I have really problems with the "new method" of fixing material (metal rope)
Here the old LSE-male "Panni" (20 years!)  with the metal rope for fitting of GSM transmitter - the usual teflon tape is not used - 08 August 2012.
"Panni" retains his GSM transmitter a long life... - 08 August 2012
Note the rigid "metal basket" with an increased scope of the breast (till 2 cm!) and increased risk of injury during hunting (for example hunting in South Africa - winter ground) - 02 September 2012 ("male A").
There are also problems with transmitter fitting by teflon tapes - this male was tagged 2005 - now eight years later, a band is broken and the transmitter hangs dangerous - Normally, the teflon harness should ripping of breaking point - 23 July 2013.
Conclusion: both methods (metal & teflon) hold incalculable risks for tagged LSE and other raptors - 23 July 2013.
Note the increased scope of "metal basket" (male B) - " male A" and "male B" bred 2012 successfully only 500 m from each other. The fitting of transmitters was on the end of fully-fledged time of young Eagles 2012.
2013 - both males are not more breeding birds! Pure chance? - 02 September 2012.
You should always bear in mind - despite of all the scientific results - this nice Eagle female retains the transmitter for a life cycle...  It hinders the female during the hunting,  during the copulation, during the period of incubation (metal press, eggs jams easily under the basket), during the migration (poorer aerodynamics).....
- 08 August 2012.