War in Ukraine Impacting Migrating Eagles' Flight Routes, Research Shows
The war in Ukraine is posing a new threat to the already endangered greater spotted eagles. Recent research reveals that these majestic birds are being forced to alter their flight paths due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Greater spotted eagles, a species already at risk, are facing another threat - the war in Ukraine. According to a study published in the journal Current Biology on Monday, these eagles have been forced to change their migration route due to exposure to conflict events in Ukraine.
Greater spotted eagles are classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They have suffered significant decline in western and central Europe, as reported in a recent study.
Despite this decline, the species has found a safe haven in Polesia, a vast wetland region that stretches across Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. This area serves as a stronghold for greater spotted eagles, providing them with a habitat where they can thrive.
A week after Russia invaded Ukraine on March 1, 2022, researchers from the UK and Estonia observed that the first of 21 tagged greater spotted eagles had crossed into Ukraine during their usual migration.
Lead study author Charlie Russell, a conservation scientist and ornithologist pursuing his PhD at the University of East Anglia in the UK, shared that when the conflict began in February 2022, they were monitoring the news like everyone else. They were also concerned about the impact on their birds passing through the area.
Using conflict data and GPS tracking, researchers studied how the conflict affected the migration of 19 eagles traveling from Ukraine to southern Belarus for breeding between March and April 2022.
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The study authors discovered that the eagles changed their flight path significantly during migrations from 2019 to 2021. They flew longer distances and took less direct routes to their breeding grounds.
Although the researchers didn't see it happen directly, they believed that the noise and light from military activities might have influenced the birds' behavior.
The researchers discovered that the deviations were more significant in areas where migration routes intersected with higher levels of military activity. However, the extent of deviation varied among individual birds based on their unique levels of exposure and response to conflict.
As a result of these increased deviations, the birds were required to travel longer distances, ultimately prolonging the time it took for them to complete their migrations.
Females now spend an average of 246 hours travelling to breeding grounds, compared to around 193 hours before the conflict, according to the study.
The eagles traveled an average of 85 kilometers (53 miles) further, with one bird flying an extra 250 kilometers (155 miles) compared to previous years, Russell noted.
Males were discovered to move at a slower pace, with an average speed of about 7.66 meters (25 feet) per second, compared to the previous speed of around 9.75 meters (32 feet) per second before the conflict.
According to the study, the researchers did not notice any changes in migration performance and deviation patterns in areas outside of Ukraine.
Potential breeding risk
The other significant finding was that the birds were making less stopovers than in previous years.
Researchers have found that stopover sites are crucial for eagles during their long journeys. These sites provide the eagles with food, water, rest, shelter from bad weather, and a chance to refuel.
Between 2018 and 2021, 90% of the tracked eagles, which is 18 individuals, made stopovers in Ukraine while migrating. However, in 2022, only six eagles were recorded making stopovers in the country.
In the years leading up to the conflict, 11 eagles regularly stopped at common sites in Ukrainian Polesia. However, in 2022, these sites were not utilized at all.
Russell explained, “The eagles had to fly longer distances, using up more energy, and had less opportunity to replenish that energy. This likely resulted in subtle negative effects on their fitness, possibly impacting their breeding success that year.”
Reduced fitness and delayed breeding due to longer recovery times after the journey may lower breeding success in the population. This could also affect chick care and the fledgling date of young birds, as highlighted in the study.
Russell emphasized the importance of recognizing the environmental stresses caused by conflict. Understanding these challenges can help in post-conflict situations to aid not only greater spotted eagles but also the broader ecosystems in their recovery efforts.
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Professor Nathalie Pettorelli, an applied ecologist and senior research fellow at the Zoological Society of London, highlighted the lack of understanding regarding the impact of human conflicts on wildlife, especially migratory species. This study helps to fill an important knowledge gap in this area.
Pettorelli emphasized the importance of understanding the factors that influence the survival of eagles for securing their future.
He also highlighted the increasing human conflicts worldwide, underscoring the need for further research on the impact of conflicts on biodiversity. Additionally, he mentioned the importance of developing effective mitigation policies whenever possible.
Ukraine has accused Russia of committing "ecocide" following an environmental disaster in July. The catastrophe occurred due to the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in the southern region of the country. This tragic event resulted in over 100 fatalities, extensive damage to farmland, and destruction of nature reserves.
According to Russell, the ongoing war in Ukraine has brought attention to the environmental consequences of conflict. He emphasized that this issue is not limited to Ukraine alone, but is a problem that is likely occurring to varying degrees in other conflict zones around the world.
Editor's P/S:
The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on greater spotted eagles, a species already facing significant decline. The conflict has forced the eagles to change their migration routes, travel longer distances, and make fewer stopovers. This has likely resulted in subtle negative effects on their fitness, possibly impacting their breeding success that year.
The study highlights the environmental stresses caused by conflict and the importance of understanding these challenges to aid in post-conflict recovery efforts. It also emphasizes the need for further research on the impact of conflicts on biodiversity and the development of effective mitigation policies.
