SmartBirds
Photo: © Mehmet Hanay
In March and April, a team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (Dr. Dimitar Demerdzhiev, Dr. Dobromir Dobrev, and Atanas Delchev), in collaboration with the DOKU association (represented by Mehmet Hanay), carried out two expeditions to study the breeding habitats of the Eastern Imperial Eagle in European Turkey.
The team surveyed all known territories where this globally endangered species has been recorded over the past 15+ years. During the first visit in March, 11 new pairs were discovered, followed by six more in April. This brings the total number of occupied territories by Eastern Imperial Eagles in the region to 61.
© Mehmet Hanay
Many of the areas inhabited by these eagles are becoming increasingly urbanized – particularly around Istanbul, Silivri, and Çorlu. This urban development poses growing threats to the species, as infrastructure expands and factories, wind farms, and other constructions emerge. In the Edirne and Kırklareli provinces, lands continue to be plowed and transformed into monoculture fields. Ancient oak trees, which the eagles have historically used for nesting, are being felled and uprooted. Although the Eastern Imperial Eagle is a highly adaptable species, such destruction of its habitats can permanently drive it away.
The research is being conducted as part of the project “Ancient Lands of the Flying Emperor – Safeguarding the Eastern Imperial Eagle in Türkiye and Bulgaria,” implemented by Doğa ve Kültür Derneği (DOKU) and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB).
