Wintering of the White-tailed Eagle in the area of the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. - K. I. Rybachuk. - Berkut. 9 (1-2). 2000. P. 39-43.
The current data about numbers, distribution and ecology of wintering White-tailed Eagles in region of the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve are presented (South Ukraine, mouth of the Dnieper). Research was carried out in 1993-1998. First wintering eagles arrive as a rule in 1-2 decades of October. Wintering period ends in 3 decade of March. Number is stable, it makes in total about 50 individuals. Up to 70 % from them are birds till 4 years. During the whole wintering period White-tailed Eagles are connected with accumulations of waterfowls. They are the main source of food. Before freezing-over of aquatories these raptors are more dispersed. They collect in forest-steppe plots of the reserve, using them as rest places. The favourable rest places are used during many years. Distance from them to main hunting areas (Yagorlitsky bay and the Dnieper-Bug estuary) does not exceed 3-7 km. After freezing-over of aquatories eagles moved to ice-holes. They spend the whole day here, some birds can pass the night on ice. Wintering water-birds and carrion are the main food, part of fishes is unimportant (Table 2). [Russian].
Key words: White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla, Black Sea, wintering, number, overnight stays, feeding.
Address: K.I. Rybachuk, Black Sea Biosphere Reserve, 75600 Golaya Pristan, Kherson region, Ukraine.