Staff Reports
A type of eagle has decided to avoid flying over Ukraine on its way to its other home, according to recent reports. Scientists who study the movements of the big spotted eagle noticed that the eagles have been steering clear of Ukraine due to the conflict there. The eagles usually fly through Ukraine to get to Belarus after starting their journey in either Greece or Sudan. The scientists found that the eagles are now visiting fewer places along their journey and taking longer routes because of the conflict. This can hurt the health of the eagles, as it might mess up their breeding. The researchers from the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the British Trust for Ornithology published their findings in Current Biology.
Because of their decision to avoid Ukraine, the greater spotted eagle could be in danger. The people who study these birds say that the eagle’s population is getting smaller, with over 10,000 mature eagles still around. This change in their travel patterns could be a very big problem for the eagles, as they are already listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. This means that the species is at risk of becoming “endangered.”
