Booted Eagle hunting on Speckled Ground Squirrel

Booted Eagle hunting on Speckled Ground Squirrel

The Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) is the smallest and most beautiful eagle, and at the same time, the most dangerous enemy for ground squirrels. It prefers them to any prey, although it can successfully hunt other small mammals and birds up to the size of a jay and lapwing. He quickly finds ground squirrels wherever they appear. Protected at the international level: listed in Appendix II of CITES, Appendix II of the Berne Convention, in Appendix III of the Red Book of the Russian Federation. It is included in many regional Red Data Books.

The Speckled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus suslicus) is a species that is steadily declining in numbers throughout its range. To prevent the species from disappearing, urgent measures are needed to create its reserve populations. Zoologist Sergei Sapelnikov, together with the Oleniy Nature Park, has been carrying out work on the reintroduction of the species on the basis of the park since 2016.

Russia. Lipetsk region. Natural Park “Oleniy”. Video - Igor Byshnev (AVES). Special thanks to Sergey Sapelnikov.


Source: Film Studio Aves.

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