Breeding Population Surveys of Eastern Imperial Eagles and Steppe Eagles in Central Anatolia, Turkey

The breeding distribution and population size of the globally vulnerable Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) was moderately known in Turkey before 2007. Besides, the status of the endangered Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) was also uncertain, as the regular breeding of the species was not proved in past decades. BirdLife Hungary, with the support of volunteers and co-operating organizations executed 14 expeditions comprising a total of 116 field days between 2007 and 2017 in order to gather data on the status of the two globally threatened eagle species in Central Anatolia. The surveys located more than 100 Imperial Eagle nests in 53 distinct territories in Bolu, Ankara, Eskisehir, Cankiri and Corum provinces. The surveys were extended to Kirsehir, Aksaray and Konya provinces, where 11 nests in six occupied Steppe Eagle territories were discovered. The successful breeding of an adult male Imperial Eagle – Steppe Eagle hybrid with an adult female Imperial Eagle was also documented.