Breeding habitat and nest site selection of the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos (L.) in Gotland

Abstract

Nest site features and habitats of the Golden Eagle were studied in Gotland, Sweden during 1992–2007. Here the entire population depended on suitable trees, particularly pines, for nesting. The mean age of the trees with a nest was 142 years. Only 4% of these trees were older than 200 years. The mean distance from nests to roads was about 400 meters and also the distances to permanently inhabited houses and recreational cottages were rather small. Thus, the Golden Eagle is not extremely specialized in the choice of habitat. But to be successful in breeding there must be a protected area around the nest-trees.