29 • 03 • 2020
The First Egg has been Laid in the Golden Eagle Nest
Last weekend’s sunny day has turned out to be a special day in the family of golden eagles – Virsis and Spilve had their first egg. This is a great opportunity for home-stayers who are currently experiencing the #stayathome lifestyle to observe how solitary golden eagles are successfully nesting here in Latvia – in a swamp managed by JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM).
“The long-awaited moment has come – on 28 March, at 16:33:41, the female golden eagle Spilve laid her first egg! It is so wonderful that it has finally happened – in the artificial nest made back in 2010. Now we are waiting for further developments – to see how the male bird Virsis feeds Spilve, if both birds participate in the hatching of the egg; maybe there will be another egg. And finally, after 41 to 45 days, we are waiting for the eagle baby to hatch,” says Uģis Bergmanis, LVM Senior Environmental Expert.
So far nesting has been successful in this nest only in 2016. LVM environmental experts then set up an on-line camera, but successful nesting had not been observed yet, because the female bird of the couple had not reached maturity. Spilve is a fifth-year bird that has just reached sexual maturity. Virsis is a fully grown bird that was already in the nest when the camera was set up in 2017.
Lesser spotted eagles in Aizkuja and Betiņsala
Anyone interested can now follow the events taking place in two nests of lesser spotted eagles in Betiņsala and Aizkuja, as well as enjoy unique moments and sounds that can only be heard in a swamp, without leaving their home.
Lesser spotted eagles are expected to arrive from their wintering grounds in early April. Meanwhile, thanks to the solar energy, anyone interested can watch the events from a new place – a nest of lesser spotted eagles in the “Žūklis” plot in Madona Municipality, close to Aizkuja Village. Two years ago, lesser spotted eagles built a nest here in a thick aspen tree, and in 2019 an eagle baby grew up in this nest. The nest is located in a forest managed by LVM and a micro-reserve with a buffer zone has been established to protect the habitat.
A second on-line camera for observing lesser spotted eagles was set up near the already known lesser spotted eagle nest in Betiņsala, where the egg laid by the female bird was destroyed as a result of a fierce fight.
With the end of winter, when the sun is shining more and more, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) environmental experts supporting the #stayathome initiative offer an opportunity to go nature with the help of four on-line cameras. Anyone interested, without leaving their home, can now follow the nesting success of the golden eagles, watch the events taking place in two nests of lesser spotted eagles in Betiņsala and Aizkuja, as well as enjoy unique moments and sounds that can only be heard in a swamp.
Both rare bird and other animal species, as well as their habitats and biotopes are protected in the areas managed by LVM. Forestry works are restricted or stopped in the places of nesting of protected birds such as the black stork, all eagles nesting in Latvia, etc., and micro-reserves and territories for the protection of habitats are created to make sure that the rare species are safe and adequately protected. In order to preserve specially protected forest habitats and protected animal and plant species, micro-reserves are established, and their area is increasing year by year.
