<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In this work we assess the data on the food of the Imperial Eagle (<italic>Aquila heliaca</italic>) in two separate nesting populations: one in Western Slovakia (21 pairs), the other in Eastern Slovakia (30 pairs). In Western Slovakia between 1978 and 2005 we recorded a total of 562 food items, consisting of 33 species of animal. The species predominantly featuring in the food were the brown hare <italic>Lepus europaeus </italic>(40.2%), common pheasant <italic>Phasianus</italic><italic>colchicus </italic>(17.3%), feral pigeon <italic>Columba livia domestica </italic>(11.7%) and the common hamster <italic>Cricetus cricetus</italic> (11.6%). In Eastern Slovakia between 1971 and 2005 we identified a total of 524 food items, made up of 30 animal species with slightly varying predominance of the same principal kinds of prey: <italic>L. europaeus </italic>(29.0%), <italic>C. cricetus</italic> (27.7%), <italic>P. colchicus </italic>(8.4%) and <italic>Columba </italic>sp. (8.2%). Imperial Eagles nesting in Slovakia are affected by the consequences of a marked reduction in population density of steppe-type rodents, especially ground squirrels (<italic>Spermophilus citellus</italic>) and hamsters (<italic>C. cricetus</italic>) and have become dependent for their food mainly on the prevalence of other small animals (<italic>L. europaeus</italic>, <italic>P. colchicus</italic>) and pigeons (<italic>C. livia domestica</italic>). Pairs nesting in neighbouring Hungary had similar prey, but a different order of predominance of the species (Haraszthy et al. 1996): <italic>C. cricetus </italic>(51.0%), <italic>L. europaeus </italic>(12.0%), <italic>P. colchicus </italic>(11.6%) and <italic>S. citellus </italic>(7.4%).</abstract>

Ochrana dravcov na Slovensku, Svätoplukova 1, SK-841 02 Bratislava, Slovakia. www.dravce.sk

Zemplínske múzeum, Kostolné námestie 1, SK-071 01 Michalovce, Slovakia

Botanická záhrada Univerzity Komenského, SK-038 15 Blatnica, Slovakia

Buzulucká 23, SK-040 01 Košice, Slovakia

The Food of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Slovakia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Long-term monitoring of the Imperial Eagle in Eastern Slovakia has revealed that some pairs living permanently in an active agricultural environment (agrocoenosis) prove capable of adapting even to extreme conditions. In three cases eagles built their nests near railway lines (59, 22 and 15 m from the tracks), and in one case almost directly above a frequently-used road at a height of 21m.</abstract>

Správa CHKO Latorica,M. R. Štefánika 1755, SK-075 01 Trebišov, Slovakia

Unusual cases of nesting by the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Eastern Slovakia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">During consistent monitoring of nesting pairs of Imperial Eagles primarily in Eastern Slovakia it was found that if for some reason the first clutch of eggs was destroyed at the very beginning of nesting, i.e. in late March or the first half of April, the eagles proceeded with substitute nesting. They built a replacement nest, so far always in a different place, in which a new clutch was laid. If the nesting was successful, then as a rule they raised one, and in two cases two offspring.</abstract>

Ochrana dravcov na Slovensku, Svätoplukova 1, SK-841 02 Bratislava, Slovakia, www.dravce.sk

Ochrana dravcov na Slovensku, Svätoplukova 1, SK-844 40 Bratislava, Slovakia

Substitute nesting by Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) in Slovakia

Jozef Mihók, Buzulucká 23, SK-040 01 Košice, Slovakia

Kleptoparasitism by raptors, focusing on the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Unusually early nest building by Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca)

Conidification among Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca)

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The 1980’s and 90’s saw growth in the population and expansion of the areas occupied by White-tailed Sea Eagles over the whole territory of their occurrence in Europe. Under this influence the number of these eagles observed during the nesting period also increased in Eastern Slovakia. The most frequent occurrences have been recorded in the wetland woods along the River Latorica on the East Slovakian Plain, but so far without any documented nesting. In 2002 one pair built a nest in the Vihorlat Hills near Zemplínska šírava reservoir, but they did not actually nest in it either that or the following year. Breeding by these eagles in these hills was noted over 70 years ago by Hrabar (1932) and Molnár (1933), but no nesting was documented. Nesting was documented for the first time in 2004, when one pair successfully raised two offspring. This pair successfully bred in the same nest in 2005 and 2006 too.</abstract>

First documented nesting by White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Eastern Slovakia

Lomnická 44, SK-040 01 Košice, Slovakia

Proof of nesting by a second pair of White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Eastern Slovakia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In the course of ten nesting seasons from 1996 to 2005 I observed nesting by hobbies in Eastern Slovakia within a territory of 1000 km2 in the Košice Basin. During this ten-year period 218 nestings were recorded. The average population density was two pairs per 100 km2 in the monitored territory. In certain quadrants with better occupation it was from four to seven pairs per 100 km2. The birds nested more frequently on very high tension (VHT) electricity pylons (126 instances) than in trees (92 instances). They prefer the nests of hooded crows (<italic>Corvus</italic><italic>corone cornix</italic>) (110 cases) and ravens (<italic>Corvus corax</italic>) (90 cases), and in only 18 cases did they use another nesting solution. When nesting in VHT pylons in the 1980’s they used to make more use of crows’ nests, but at the present time they prefer ravens’ nests to a significant degree.</abstract>

Nesting by Hobbies (Falco subbuteo) in the Košice Basin (Eastern Slovakia) from 1996 to 2005

Large numbers of young in nests of Tawny Owls (Strix aluco)

Unusual nesting by Tengmalm´s Owls (Aegolius funereus)

Tree nesting of Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) in Prievidza district

Summary of Ringing Project for Raptors and Owls in Slovakia from 2002 to 2004

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 18 (2024): Issue 1 (March 2024)

Volume 17 (2023): Issue 1 (June 2023)

Volume 16 (2022): Issue 1 (December 2022)

Volume 15 (2021): Issue 1 (December 2021)

Volume 14 (2020): Issue 1 (December 2020)

Volume 13 (2019): Issue 1 (December 2019)

Volume 12 (2018): Issue 1 (December 2018)

Volume 11 (2017): Issue 1 (December 2017)

Volume 10 (2016): Issue 1 (December 2016)

Volume 9 (2015): Issue 1 (January 2015) Special Issue Title: International Conference on the Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle, Košická Belá, Slovakia, 2014

Volume 8 (2014): Issue 2014 (January 2014) Proceedings from VII. International Conference on the Conservation of the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2013

Volume 8 (2014): Issue 2 (December 2014)

Volume 7 (2013): Issue 2013 (January 2013)

Volume 6 (2012): Issue 2012 (January 2012)

Volume 5 (2011): Issue 2011 (January 2011)

Volume 4 (2010): Issue 2010 (January 2010)

Volume 3 (2009): Issue 2009 (January 2009)

Volume 2 (2008): Issue 2008 (January 2008)

Volume 1 (2007): Issue 2007 (January 2007)

Raptor Journal

 Journal for science, research and conservation on birds of prey and owls. Raptor Journal (formerly known as Slovak Raptor Journal) is issued generally annually and publishes original papers, reviews, short notes and other articles focusing on birds of prey and owls. All articles are published in English.   Why read  The readers can find information about all aspects of the life of raptors and owls – habitat requirements and selection, foraging ecology and diet preferences, breeding biology and nest success, postbreeding movements and migration, threats and protection, population statuses and trends etc.   Why submit   The journal has no article publication charges.  No regional limitation – journal published papers from Europe, Asia and both Americas in last years.  Fair and fast peer review.  All accepted manuscripts are published as “online first” before completing the issue.  All published articles are visible and accessible in full version.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 