Golden Eagle Breeding Returns to the West Bank, Palestine: Offspring Mortality in Both Attempts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30456/avo.29850Parole chiave:
Accipitridae, anthropogenic threats, electrocution, Middle East, poaching, remote sensingAbstract
The Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, a globally distributed apex raptor, has long been rare in Palestine. This study reports the first documented breeding attempts in the West Bank in more than four decades. Bi-weekly surveys in Wadi Sa'ir and Al-Kanub Nature Reserve (October 2021–June 2023) revealed one active nest at each site, each containing a single chick that was banded. Both nesting areas were dominated by open grassland. Human disturbance was substantially greater in Wadi Sa'ir, largely driven by nearby human-modified land. Both attempts ultimately failed: the 2022 nestling was illegally taken from its nest, and the 2023 fledgling died after electrocution. Fieldwork in 2024–2025 was halted due to regional instability. We summarize nesting ecology, prey composition, threats, and conservation implications, highlighting the urgent need to protect nest sites and reduce human-related risks to support Golden Eagle persistence in the West Bank.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Saed L. Al Shomali, Elias N. Handal, Mahmood Kolnegari
Questo lavoro è fornito con la licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Condividi allo stesso modo 4.0.
Accettato 2026-02-11
Pubblicato 2026-06-19
