Third International Scientific and Practical Conference “Eagles of the Palearctic: Study and Conservation”

Raptors Conservation. Suppl. 2. Proceedings of Conferences

The Survival Status of Golden and Steppe Eagles in a Capturing Area in China

MaMing R. (Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China)

Contact:
MaMing maming@ms.xjb.ac.cn
Recommended citation: MaMing R. The Survival Status of Golden and Steppe Eagles in a Capturing Area in China. – Raptors Conservation. 2023. S2: 191–192. DOI: 10.19074/1814-8654-2023- 2-191-192 URL: http://rrrcn.ru/en/archives/35014

Our recent investigation in China encompasses the species and number studies of eagles in captivity, study of methods and tools used to capture raptors in the field, investigation into whether there is trade (and at which level), estimation of damage to wild populations and their resources, assessment of the current situation in the field, negative factors, conflicts between laws and traditional culture (such as the Intangible Cultural Heritage), and how to solve and effectively manage them.

We know that the sources of origins of eagles are different. Some populations breed in China, while others migrate or pass through China. For example, in Aheqi County, a border county in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, we have counted 412 captured Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the past 20 years. At least 231 were caught by means of nets 56.1%, and about 163 juvenile birds were taken from their nests 39.6%. And 16 eagles weakened by starvation or overeating frozen food were caught in winter, and 2 were caught as a result of mutual fights.

In early August 2023, a survey of eagle training showed that Golden Eagles accounted for 87.3% of all birds, while few falconers use Steppe Eagles (Aquila nipalensis). Certanly, other raptors such as Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug), Peregrines (Falco peregrinus), and Barbary Falcons (Falco pelegrinoides) are also captured occasionally by local people in Xinjiang.

Finally, we are going to discuss some negative factors affecting raptors in steppe and desert regions, including bird mortality at power grid facilities, poisoning, and insufficient prey availability both in nesting areas and on migration paths.