Installing of Artificial Nests as a Method of the Large Birds of Prey Population Management in the Center of European Russia: Successes, Problems, Prospects

Abstract

Abstract Active management of populations of protected animal species is urgent whilst its number is catastrophically low and human disturbance of the habitat remains heavy as well. The article analyzes the success, problems and prospects of a large-scale project to recover the number of rare species of birds of prey through the installing of artificial nests in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is located in the centre of European Russia, in 1998-2019. At the end of 1990, in the Nizhny Novgorod region the number of large birds of prey was critically low: Osprey – 10-12, Golden Eagle – 2-3, Imperial Eagle – 1-3, Greater Spotted Eagle – 10-15, White-tailed Eagle – 4-7 pairs. The main limiting factor for them was the lack of trees suitable for nesting. In total, during the period from 1998 to 2014, 371 artificial nests for large birds of prey were installed in 19 administrative regions of the region. All five target species (Osprey, Golden Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle and White-tailed Eagle) has been recorded occupying the artificial nests. The process of developing system of artificial nests has been analyzed. Its influence on the number of target species of birds of prey and changes in the use of artificial nests by birds of prey has been also examined. The development of the system of artificial nests has shown its effectiveness as a method to manage populations of rare species of birds of prey that suffer from the lack of nesting trees. It seems to be truth for the Golden Eagle, the Osprey and rather the White-tailed Eagle, and the installing of artificial nests had a significant positive effect on their population trends. Installing of artificial nests is particularly effective when the number of target species is critically low. The increase in numbers leads to a decrease in the share of birds using artificial nests. We propose to continue the regular monitoring of the all the artificial nests for large birds of prey and declare the necessity of implementing a special project to recover the Golden Eagle number in the region.