Rarest European Raptor --- The Spanish Imperial Eagle

[Gottshotz]

The Spanish Imperial was down to 30 pairs in 1970, but thanks mainly to Government conservation efforts the numbers are up to around 200 pairs, mostly in South Western Spain and the adjoining part of Portugal. It is Spain's National bird with distinctive white markings on the shoulders.

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It is slightly smaller than a Bald Eagle and also its cousin, The European Golden Eagle, but still has an impressive wingspan of almost 7 feet.

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They can live up to 40 years and feed mostly on rabbits, although pairs nesting in wetland areas take mostly, geese, ducks and coots.

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They are very territorial and will mob and chase off larger raptors and scavengers from their "patch".

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"Incoming"--in this instance an inquisitive Gryphon Vulture has been spotted in the territory and the male takes off immediately to attack it .

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"Contact"-- undeterred by the Gryphon's larger size, the male mobs the vulture to drive it off.

 

[Hooligans Imagery]

Nice captures; good looking bird.

 

[Charles Loy]

Super information on the amazing eagle. Very nice photos

 

[Gottshotz]

Nice captures; good looking bird.

Thanks BarkingBeans Coffee --- Yep it is very striking with the back and white contrast.

Super information on the amazing eagle. Very nice photos

Thanks Charles --- been after this bird for quite a few years now, so getting these shots was very satisfying.

 

[Charles Loy]

Thanks BarkingBeans Coffee --- Yep it is very striking with the back and white contrast.

Thanks Charles --- been after this bird for quite a few years now, so getting these shots was very satisfying.

Okay then.

 

[AprilInA2]

Beautiful

 

[ssheipel]

Great looking bird!

 

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set of photos of a beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Gottshotz]

Beautiful

Thanks AprilinA2 --- glad you enjoyed them.

 

[Gottshotz]

Nice set of photos of a beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Dan --- always a pleasure to share, especially when its a majestic bird like this !

 

[Gottshotz]

Great looking bird!

Thanks Steven --- I agree, very few of the eagles I have seen come close to this for looks.

 

[RockvilleBob]

Very nice series. Hopefully the conservation efforts will pay off similar to the Bald Eagle here in the USA. Must be a challenge to photograaph a bird when only a few hundred exist. Great work.

 

[AprilInA2]

Where did you see this marvel? I take it was at a hide . Iberianlynx runs programs, but I don’t know anything about them.

 

[Gottshotz]

Very nice series. Hopefully the conservation efforts will pay off similar to the Bald Eagle here in the USA. Must be a challenge to photograaph a bird when only a few hundred exist. Great work.

Thanks Bob --- yes, the current generation of Spaniards take their conservation very seriously and they are fortunate to still have large tracts of land not under intensive agriculture to carry out this work without unwanted human intervention. Their Iberian Lynx (Pardel Lynx) Programme is a case in point. In 1960 there were approx 60,000 of these beautiful cats throughout Spain and Portugal, by 2015 they were down to the last 200+ ! See below my photo of number 225 in spring 2015 of a female Lynx near Andjucar, Andalucia. Spain.
The Spanish Govt. was made aware of the danger of extinction and immediately pumped £5 million pounds into a rescue and recovery programme involving many top biologists --- now they are up to 5,000 most of which are being released back into appropriate habitats around the country.
As regards photographing these rare birds -- most of the nest sites are closely guarded secrets, but because the pair will forage far and wide to secure food for their chicks some wildlife operators have been licensed to put up observation hides within their territories (not close to the actual nests, however) and are permitted to put out local carrion in a controlled way. This has allowed the birds to get their offspring through the current climate changes, especially drought , and thus keep the gene pool viable with population numbers ahead of the deaths caused by electrocution (most of Spain's electricity network is still distributed by pylons ), poisoning and wind turbines.

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[Gottshotz]

Where did you see this marvel? I take it was at a hide . Iberianlynx runs programs, but I don’t know anything about them.

Hi AprilinA2 --- Have a look above to my reply to Bob's queery, as it explains a bit about your question too. In short, yes this was from a hide run by SkuaNature in Alpasin in the mountainous region of Andalusia, Southern Spain. I've got to know their guide Agustin pretty well now and he is impressively protective of all of the animals and birds that can be spotted from the various hides within his "domain". Spain has the largest wildlife fauna available in Western Europe and there are quite a few people running tours etc. throughout the country who still have the best interests of protecting Iberian wildlife in mind --- if you are interested in finding out more you can always contact me as I have used some of them myself. Regards David.

 

[AprilInA2]

Hi AprilinA2 --- Have a look above to my reply to Bob's queery, as it explains a bit about your question too. In short, yes this was from a hide run by SkuaNature in Alpasin in the mountainous region of Andalusia, Southern Spain. I've got to know their guide Agustin pretty well now and he is impressively protective of all of the animals and birds that can be spotted from the various hides within his "domain". Spain has the largest wildlife fauna available in Western Europe and there are quite a few people running tours etc. throughout the country who still have the best interests of protecting Iberian wildlife in mind --- if you are interested in finding out more you can always contact me as I have used some of them myself. Regards David.

Thanks! My sister-in-law lives in Seville.

 

[Ralph]

The Spanish Imperial was down to 30 pairs in 1970, but thanks mainly to Government conservation efforts the numbers are up to around 200 pairs, mostly in South Western Spain and the adjoining part of Portugal. It is Spain's National bird with distinctive white markings on the shoulders.

View attachment 77195

It is slightly smaller than a Bald Eagle and also its cousin, The European Golden Eagle, but still has an impressive wingspan of almost 7 feet.

View attachment 77196

They can live up to 40 years and feed mostly on rabbits, although pairs nesting in wetland areas take mostly, geese, ducks and coots.

View attachment 77198

They are very territorial and will mob and chase off larger raptors and scavengers from their "patch".

View attachment 77199

"Incoming"--in this instance an inquisitive Gryphon Vulture has been spotted in the territory and the male takes off immediately to attack it .

View attachment 77201

"Contact"-- undeterred by the Gryphon's larger size, the male mobs the vulture to drive it off.

Awesome series

 

[Woody Meristem]

Excellent photos of a beautiful bird, the first two are my favorites, but they're all superb.

 

[gnpToday]

Fantastic...very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Gottshotz]

Awesome series

Thanks Ralph --- a pleasure to post them.

 

[Gottshotz]

Excellent photos of a beautiful bird, the first two are my favorites, but they're all superb.

Thanks Woody --- glad you liked them!

 

[Gottshotz]

Fantastic...very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Greg --- a species definitely worth saving !

 

[Gottshotz]

Thanks! My sister-in-law lives in Seville.

Hah, and mine lives in Javea , between Valencia and Alicante. I will send you some more info in the next couple of days on the conservation post. David