Third annual conference of the Eagle Conservation Alliance INTRODUCTORY LECTURE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF EAGLES OF THE WORLD L. Kiff, The Peregrine Fund, 5668 W. Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709. The number of recognized genera of eagles has declined slightly over the past century, but the number of recognized species has increased, partly due to the advent of molecular genetics. Classifications of eagles by the IUCN conservation status criteria are maintained by BirdLife International and the Global Raptor Information Network (“GRIN”). According to these sources, there are 67 (BirdLife) to 76 (GRIN) species of extant eagle species in 19 to 21 genera. (GRIN recognizes 9 species, mostly from the genus Spilornis, which are regarded as subspecies by BirdLife International). According to these schemes, eagles fall into the following categories (GRIN totals in paren- theses): Critically Endangered: 3(3); Endangered: 3(8); Vulnerable: 12 (11); Near Threatened: 12(13); Least Concern or Lower Risk: 37(32); Data Defi- cient: 0(9). Based on GRIN, the rarest eagle species (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened) are distributed unevenly by zoogeographic region, as follows: Indomalayan (19), Afrotropical (8), Palearc- tic (5), Neotropical (5), Australasian (2), and Nearctic (1). Although direct persecution of eagles, especially shooting, occurs almost everywhere, the in- tensity of other important threats varies by region, with habitat loss or degra- dation being most important in all areas, especially in tropical latitudes, and secondary poisoning ranking high in the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Nearctic Regions. Among the most pressing needs for global eagle conservation are basic research on the poorly known Spilornis and Nisaetus taxa in the Indo- malayan Region, and, on a global basis, habitat preservation, environmental education, and the termination of lead ammunition manufacture. - 3 - Third annual conference of the Eagle Conservation Alliance COMMUNICATIONS EAGLE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH BY THE PEREGRINE FUND: MADAGASCAR SERPENT EAGLE, MADAGASCAR FISH EAGLE, AFRICAN FISH EAGLE, HARPY EAGLE, AND OTHERS. R. T. Watson. The Peregrine Fund, Boise, USA. The Peregrine Fund rediscovered the Madagascar Serpent Eagle (Eutriorchis astur) in 1993, nearly 60 years after the last reliably confirmed sighting of this species. Our current work aims to understand the ecology of the species and use this information to help establish a nationally protected area of ha- bitat for serpent eagles and other highly threatened biodiversity in northern Madagascar. Our work to conserve the endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) spans nearly 20 years of effort and includes in-depth study of the species’ distribution and abundance and factors affecting them, community-based conservation of critical habitat, experimental species ma- nagement, and ongoing population surveillance. The African Fish Eagle (Ha- liaeetus vocifer) is widespread on continental Africa and considered a species at lower risk. The Peregrine Fund is monitoring a population nesting on Lake Naivasha because the historical study begun in the 1960s by Leslie Brown offers long-term data for comparison with the contemporary landscape, and the species appears now to be subject to numerous effects associated with a recent horticultural industry which grows flowers for export and consump- tion in Europe, including water abstraction, contamination with herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, and the effects of a large immigrant human popula- tion of laborers. The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is considered near threa- tened and has been the subject of experimental restoration by The Peregrine Fund in the Maya Forest of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico, as well as in the Panama canal watershed. Current work includes monitoring captive raised eagles released to the wild, and studying the species’ population biology in an intact part of its range in Panama. Human persecution and habitat loss are the most important factors limiting the species’ survival. The Peregrine Fund also provides assistance with other eagle species under study and conser- vation worldwide including the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), New Guinea Harpy Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae), Pallas’s Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), and Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus). - 4 - Third annual conference of the Eagle Conservation Alliance STELLER’S SEA EAGLES (HALIAEETUS PELAGICUS) IN MAGADAN DISTRICT, RUSSIA OVER THE PAST 18 YEARS 1. Utekhina1, E. Potapov2, M. McGrady3 & D. Rimlinger4 1Magadan State Nature Reserve, Magadan, 685000, Russia. 2Bryn Athyn College, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009, U.S.A. 3Natural Research, Ltd, Brathens Business Park, Hill of Brathens, Glassel, Ban- chory, Aberdeenshire AB31 4BY U.K. 4San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 U.S.A. We studied occupancy and productivity of Steller’s sea eagles (Haliaeetus pe- lagicus) in the Magadan District of Russia since 1991, concentrating mostly on the Magadan State Reserve (zapovednik) and the coastal areas nearby. We were aware of and visited at least once during the study period 281 nesting territories. We were unable to visit all nests in all years, but since 1997 we have collected data from about 100 nests per year. Nesting territories could be divided into sites on rivers or sites on coasts and those which fell within the more strictly protected areas of the zapovednik and those outside of its boundaries. Coastal sites could be along shallow bays with large littoral mu- dflats at low tide or along areas of deep water with little or no littoral zone. Some coastal nesting territories were near sea bird colonies. We report on occupancy and productivity parameters and examine the influence of terri- tory characteristics on these. Overall productivity was significantly less on ri- vers than on the coast. On the coast, nests on shallow bays and near sea bird colonies were more often occupied and were more productive than territo- ries on deep water. We discuss our findings in relation to current estimates of the status of the Steller’s sea eagle and identify useful avenues of research as well as conservation efforts that might benefit the eagles. - 5 - Third annual conference of the Eagle Conservation Alliance STATUS AND CONSERVATION OF THE GREAT PHILIPPINE EAGLE D. Salvador. Phillipinne Eagle Foundation, Mindanao, The Phillipinnes. The Great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is regarded as one of the most endangered eagles in the world. Habitat loss and human persecution continue to impact the species adversely. These problems are complicated further by a number of human-induced factors. Yet despite these obstacles, sustained conservation initiatives over the years have began to yield positive results. The current population status of the species and threats are outlined in this report. In situ and ex situ actions associated with the conservation of the species show how these threats are being addressed. Recent develop- ments and plans to strengthen recovery goals for the species are also presen- ted in this paper. - 6 - Third annual conference of the Eagle Conservation Alliance STATUS AND CONSERVATION OF EAGLES IN NEPAL A. Chaudhary1, H.S. Baral2 1Bird Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2Himalayan Nature, Kathmandu, Nepal For a small landlocked nation, Nepal has high bird diversity due to its diverse altitudinal and habitat range. There are 864 species of birds recorded from Nepal with nearly 600 breeding species and 31 globally threatened species. Of the 74 species of Eagles found in the world, 26% (19 species) have been recorded in Nepal. Among them, 6 are globally threatened and 3 nationally threatened. Aquila hastate, A. clanga, A. helica and Haliaeetus leucryphus have been listed as vulnerable and Ichthyophaga humilis and I. ichthyaetus as near threatened in the IUCN Red List. In addition, Aquila rapax, Haliaeetus albicilla and Hieraatus kinerii have been recorded as critically endangered, endange- red and vulnerable respectively for Nepal. Food shortage, poisoning and habitat destruction are the key threats to ea- gles in the country. No concrete work specific to eagle conservation has been carried out. Nepal does not have any eagles in its list of protected animals, however, this list is in the process of being updated. Nepal now has nine na- tional parks, three wildlife reserves, one hunting reserve, four conservation areas and eleven buffer zones covering an area of 28,998.67 sq. km that is 19.7% of the total area of the country. Important Bird Areas (IBAs) have also been identified for Nepal and concentrated conservation work is ongoing in many IBAs. Nepal has a total of 27 IBAs covering 18% of country’s land area, 14 support globally threatened eagle species. Nepal also has eight Ramsar sites, 4 of which support globally threatened eagle species. The conservation of these sites hold the key to conservation of eagles in Nepal. - 7 - Third annual conference of the Eagle Conservation Alliance STATUS DE CONSERVAÇÃO DE ÁGUIAS NO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAIS, SUDESTE DO BRASIL. G.D.M. de Carvalho1, G. Zorzin1,2, E.P.M. de Carvalho1, C.E.A. Carvalho1, M. Canuto1,3 & C. E. Tameirão Benfica1. 1.S.O.S. FALCONIFORMES – Centro de Pesquisa para a Conservação de Aves de Rapina Neotropicais. Rua Odilon Braga 1.370 Mangabeiras, Belo Horizonte - MG [email protected] 2.Universidade Federal de Viçosa - Programa de Pós-Gradução em Biologia Animal 3. Universidade Federal