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WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Haliaeetus albicilla at Durbe

The White-tailed Eagle's nest can be observed live since 2015 and is located in Kurzeme, at Durbe Municipality. This breeding area has been known since 2014. The nest is built on top of an old spruce tree, which was once broken by wind or snow. Several branches have grown around the fracture, forming a fork suitable for building a nest at a height of about 30 metres. The camera was installed on one of the top branches at the end of January 2015. The nest is interesting because it is built in a spruce – the white-tailed eagles rarely choose to nest in spruces –, at the time of its location, this was only the fourth known nest built in a spruce in Latvia. About a half of all white-tailed eagle nests are built in pines, a third in aspens and to a lesser extent in birches, black alders and oaks. In spruces, nests are usually built on such broken ends and are usually located high above the ground.

In 2015, the eagle couple Durbe and Roberts successfully raised one nestling – Durberts. In 2016 and 2017, the residents of the nest changed several times, and breeding was not started in either of the two years. In 2018, a couple of White-tailed Eagles, who resided here since March 2017 and were given the names Milda and Raimis, successfully bred in this nest. They raised two nestlings. After the breeding season, the nest completely collapsed, but the couple of White-tailed Eagles soon began to rebuild it. Also in 2019, the breeding was successful, two eagles hatched and flew out. This year, too, after nesting, the nest completely collapsed. In October, the couple of eagles began construction to restore the nest, which went better this year than the last year. Already the first branches were placed between the main branches and did not slip.

The camera system was installed by Jānis Ķuze, Jānis Rudzītis and Ģirts Strazdiņš. Māris Freibergs, Juris Lauva, Arnis Zacmanis, Lex van Drongelen and Jelle Lips have also helped to maintain it.

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Haliaeetus albicilla in Slītere National Park

The White-tailed Eagle's breeding area at this place has been known since 2010 – initially the eagles nested in an approx. 20 years old artificial nest, then moved and built this nest 200 metres away, where they bred in 2013. For the next five years, the nest was uninhabited, and the place where the birds had moved was unknown. In the winter of 2018/2019, the nest was visited by a couple of Golden Eagles, but one of the birds was incompletely grown-up and breeding was not started in the spring.

The camera system at the nest was installed in early 2019. In the autumn, a couple of White-tailed Eagles started visiting the nest, both birds are without rings, so there is reason to believe that at least one or possibly both eagles are new to the area – in 2013, when successful breeding last happened in this nest, the female was ringed.

The nest is built in a pine tree at a height of about 15 metres, next to it there is a semi-overturned pine tree, which rubs against the nest tree in windy weather, creating a squeaking noise. For this reason, the microphone is not placed near the nest, as in other cases, but slightly away, on a branch. As a result, the sounds from the nest are not so intimate.

This is one of the two White-tailed Eagle areas that has been known in the territory of Slītere National Park (in the third area the nest was once just outside the park). We believe that the birds are feeding both at the sea and inland.

The camera system was installed at the nest by Jānis Ķuze and Jānis Rudzītis. Thanks to Helmuts Hofmanis for his help at maintaining the system!

EURASIAN EAGLE OWL Bubo bubo

The live camera at the nest in Kurzeme was placed in 2017. This breeding area of a Eurasian Eagle-owl has been known since 1998, when a natural nesting site was found on the ground. After several times the Eurasian Eagle-owls failed to nest on the ground, Juris Lipsbergs built an artificial nest in a spruce tree, about 10 metres high. The nest is so large that an adult human can curl up in it. The camera mounted at the nest has advanced technical features – it can be adjusted remotely and provides night vision using infrared light.

From 2013 to 2017, nesting in this nest was successful every season. In 2017, we were able to watch live as a couple of Eurasian Eagle-owls (Bubo and Bo) raised three nestlings. In 2018 and 2019, breeding did not take place, although the male regularly visited the nest.

The camera system was installed by Jānis Ķuze, Jānis Rudzītis and Pēteris Daknis. Juris Lipsbergs and Andris Avotiņš Jr. have also helped to maintain it.

BLACK STORK Ciconia nigra

This nest in Sigulda Municipality was found two years before the camera was installed, and the first season, about which we have full information, is that of 2017, when four nestlings hatched, and three grew up.

This breeding area has been known for a long time. The previous nest nearby has been known since at least 1982 and was used until 2005, when it was predated by a marten. Probably already then the birds moved to this nest. The nest as such is a very typical Black Stork nest – on the side branch of a pine tree, 1.8 m from the trunk, however, a bit unusual is that it is in the middle of the surrounding tree crowns – about 18 metres high, rather than hidden under the crowns. The location of the camera sensor at this nest is also unusual, as it is not located at the tree trunk, but on a branch behind the nest. It is so that the sun would not shine in the camera all day – because the branch of the nest faces almost exactly to the south.

The nest is situated in a very real boreal forest with decently old pines (could be between 150 and 200 years old) and spruces. Therefore, it will not be a great surprise if several species of owls (for example, Ural Owl) and Spotted Nutcracker will be noted in the camera by voice or in person.

In 2018, breeding was successful – the couple had four nestlings, all of which fledged successfully. In 2019, the male did not find a partner and nesting did not take place.

The camera system was installed with the participation of Jānis Ķuze, Jānis Rudzītis and Māris Strazds. Special thanks to arborist Eduards Ozoliņš.

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus

The nest observed in the camera is located in Kurzeme – Saldus Municipality. This Osprey breeding area has been known since 1989, when a nest in a beaver’s flooded site was found. In the early 90's an artificial nest was installed in a spruce, unfortunately the tree broke in 1996. After that, the ospreys nested in the beaver habitat in various withered trees.

In November 2007, Aigars Kalvāns installed an artificial nest in a pine tree, which in 2010 was inhabited for the first time by a couple of Ospreys. Unfortunately, breeding was not successful that year. From 2012 to 2015, the nest was inhabited and breeding was successful – three Osprey nestlings were raised in 2012, one in 2013, two in 2014 and three in 2015. In 2016, the nest was inhabited, but breeding was unsuccessful.

In 2017, when an online camera system was installed at this nest, Ospreys bred successfully. In 2018, breeding was started by the same male that breeded here the previous year – Teo – and another female named Tija. Tija laid 3 eggs and started incubating them, but on May 1, the live system was damaged by a thunderstorm and we could not watch further developments in the nest. Teo returned to the nest in 2019, but a couple did not form and breeding did not start.

The camera system was set up by Jānis Ķuze, Jānis Rudzītis and Aigars Kalvāns, and Jānis Jansons also helped to maintain it.

GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis

The nest of Goshawk in this place in Riga has been known since 2016 – it is believed that the breeding couple moved here from another nest about 600 metres away. In the immediate vicinity of the nest there are both industrial objects, the sounds of which can often be heard, and private houses. The tree of the nest is located in a small wet area overgrown with weeds and shrubs. The nest is built in a black alder, which grows on the edge of a ditch. The Goshawk has built his dwelling on the remains of a crow's nest. The metal wires twisted in the nest still evidence that the crow was a supporter of durable building materials.

The nest was controlled during this time and the nestlings were ringed in it. This couple, and especially the female, is known among the ornithologists for their special character – she tends to behave particularly aggressively and attack people when they are just approaching the nest. On the other hand, birds are accustomed to people and equipment operating behind the fence in the nearby industrial facility and do not pay attention to them. Interestingly, at the time the female laid her first egg, very close, about 50 m from the nest, a crow couple were building their own nest. Crows are a common food item for Goshawks, but it happens that hawks do not touch other nesting birds near their nest, and they make use of this safety zone.

The camera system was installed by Ģirts Strazdiņš, Arnis Zacmanis and Jānis Rudzītis. Thanks to SIA “Darba Spars” (https://www.darbaspars.lv) for cooperation!

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE Clanga pomarina - nest in birch (I)

The live Lesser Spotted Eagle's nest in Zemgale has been known since July 2017, when one young bird was found there. It is built in a birch at a height of about 20 metres. Judging by the material of the nest, it is at least five years old (the lower parts are already partially split).

The online camera system at this location was installed in the spring of 2018. Later, during the breeding season, a couple of Lesser Spotted Eagles stayed in the nest, but the breeding did not start. In 2019, breeding was started, the female laid one egg, but it did not hatch.

The camera system at this nest was installed by Jānis Ķuze and Jānis Rudzītis, and Valdis Lukjanovs and Ģirts Strazdiņš also helped to maintain it.

The operation of the live camera at the Lesser Spotted Eagle’s nest is provided by the Latvian Fund for Nature within the project "Ensuring the Protection of the Lesser Spotted Eagle in Latvia" (LIFE AQPOM), financially supported by the European Commission's LIFE+ program and co-financed by the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund.

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE Clanga pomarina - nest in spruce (II)

The nest is situated in the western end of Zemgale. It was found in 2018.

The nest is built in a spruce at a height of 17 metres, on a stable three-pronged branch. In terms of location, it can be assessed as a typical Lesser Spotted Eagle's nest – about half of all Lesser Spotted Eagle's nests in Latvia are located in spruces, and a large part of them is built in the places, where the branches have formed several new tops at the trunk fracture. Judging by the size of the nest and the condition of the material, the nest is at least five years old.

In 2019, the nest delighted the audience with a harmonious nesting – a couple of eagles, Anna and Andris, raised one nestling, who grew calmly, in conditions of abundance of food and fledged successfully.

The camera system at this nest was installed by Jānis Ķuze and Jānis Rudzītis. Thanks for support to Jānis Kažotnieks and Renāte Kviese!

The operation of the live camera at the Lesser Spotted Eagle’s nest is provided by the Latvian Fund for Nature within the project "Ensuring the Protection of the Lesser Spotted Eagle in Latvia" (LIFE AQPOM), financially supported by the European Commission's LIFE+ program and co-financed by the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund.

BLACK KITE Milvus migrans

This live nest is located in the Black Kite breeding area, which has been known since 2011. Previously, the birds nested in another nest, but this one, built in an old birch, was found in 2017. Both in the year of its discovery and in the following two years, the kites successfully bred in this nest.

As is typical of kite, the nest is richly decorated with man-made "decorations" – plastic films, rags and pieces of rope, and pieces of plastic film have also fallen to the ground under the nest.

The live camera system at the nest was built at the end of March, the first bird arrived in the nest on the afternoon of April 6.

The camera system was built by Jānis Ķuze and Jānis Rudzītis, with the participation of Pēteris Daknis, Aleksejs Šarīpins and Renāte Kviese. Thanks to Aigars Kalvāns for information about the history of the nest population.

HISTORY

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

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