black sea red data book - Department of Biology

and others) and feeds on ill, weak or frozen birds. By the seashore it picks up
carcasses of dolphins, fish, and birds.
Population trends. A common nesting species along the coasts of theBlack and the
Sea of Azov and along the valleys of the big rivers emptying into these seas in the
past. There was a major decline in the population during 1960-1965. After that, the
number slowly increased again. This was a result of the successful breeding and
resettlement of the species in Central Europe (Hlorig, 1986), the huge increase of the
population in Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia. From the Danube, the White-
tailed Eagle resettled its previous habitats along the Black Sea. The feeding of birds
in Scandinavia, the decrease environmental pollution and the decline in hunting in
Eastern Europe during the last 10th years has also helped . Currently, about 30 pairs
breed along the coasts of the Black and the Sea of Azov.
Threats. Threats include pollution of water basins with different kinds of poisons,
the drainage of marshes, the cutting down of woods and the tourist invasion along the
seashore, the use of poisonous baits and traps for wolves and foxes, the meaningless
shooting of birds and the destruction of their nests. Among the enemies of the
Haliaeetus albicilla are Falco cherrug and large colonies of ants, which sometimes
force the eagles to leave their nests.
Conservation measures taken. The species is "world endangered" and is listed in
Appendix II of the Washington Convention. It is protected by law in many European
countries, including in the Black Sea region (Bulgaria, Ukraine and Russia). Many of
its habitats along the seashores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are protected
wetlands of international importance (National Park Strandja, the deltas of the rivers
Danube, Dnestar, Dnepar, the Black Sea reserve, the islands of Lebiajie, the river
Kizilirmak delta and others).
Conservation measures proposed. Ban pollution with poisons and industrial waste.
Promote preservation of woods, restrict of hotel building and tourist invasion of
habitats along the seashore. Protective propaganda among the human population,
especially among hunters.
References
Cramp, S. & K. Simmons (Eds), 1980. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Oxford,
2: 1-695.
Golushin, V., 1983. Orlan-belohvost Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758). Krasnaia
kniga RSFSR, jivotniela. Moscow, Rosselhozizdat: 215-217 pp.
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