Monitoring the ‘Vitsiles’ in Sitia, Crete

Apart from the ones belonging to the Bonelli’s Eagle, breeding territories of the Golden Eagle (known as "Vichila" in the local dialect) are also being monitored within the framework of the LIFE Bonelli eastMed Project. The two main aims of the monitoring are the successful tagging of young individuals of the species with a satellite transmitter and the investigating of their dispersal and foraging patterns.

This year, the project’s Field Team visited all active territories of the species in Eastern Crete, an area known for its high density of Golden Eagle breeding territories. Of all the active territories, an impressive number of four (4) territories were located only in the Municipality of Sitia and all within the boundaries of the UNESCO World Geopark of Sitia!

In 2023, we managed to tag with a satellite transmitter a total of two Golden Eagle chicks from two neighboring, active breeding territories of the species. The analysis of the telemetry data will provide us with valuable information regarding the spatial dispersal patterns of the species. This knowledge is very important considering the fact that this area, among other things, needs to be protected from the increased pressure caused by the installation of wind power farms, a large-scale industrial activity that involves well-documented risks in case the scientific criteria for their proper siting are not taken into account.

Approach of a Golden Eagle nest by our partners Kostis Marmadzakos and Savvas Paragamian. © Archive NHMC / Aspasia Anagnostopoulou

Trapping and picking up a Golden Eagle juvenile for transport to the field team for ringing and tagging with a satellite transmitter. © Archive NHMC / Aspasia Anagnostopoulou

Tagged with a satellite transmitter, a Golden Eagle juvenile that has just returned to its nest. © Archive NHMC / Aspasia Anagnostopoulou