Nest-site selection, breeding success, and diet of white-tailed eagles(Haliaeetus albicilla) in the Danube Delta, Romania

White-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in the Danube Delta, Romania, primarily nest in tall trees, such as willows and white poplars, with most nests built above 15 meters. The breeding population is concentrated in the northern and northwestern parts of the delta, likely due to the availability of suitable nesting sites in less-disturbed areas. Despite a diverse diet consisting of birds, fish, and mammals—with wildfowl and large cyprinids being the most significant contributors—the population exhibits low breeding success, with an average of 0.67 fledglings per pair. The study suggests that maintaining or providing artificial nesting sites could be crucial for sustaining this population, which is locally important but has been understudied compared to other European regions.

D. SÁNDOR, A., ALEXE, V., MARINOV, M., DOROŞENCU, A., DOMȘA, C., & KISS, B. J. (2015). Nest-site selection, breeding success, and diet of white-tailed eagles(Haliaeetus albicilla) in the Danube Delta, Romania. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 39, 300–307. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1401-64