PDF of full paper:
http://www.raptor-research.de/pdfs/a_sp100p/a_sp150_PGE-06-063-085-Meyburg-Schreiadler.pdf
Summary
A breeding pair of Lesser Spotted Eagles Aquila pomarina in Germany was
each fitted
with satellite transmitters and the information obtained from
3,641 locations was analysed.
Four autumn and two spring migrations were recorded in their entirety
and
one further autumn migration in part only. The pair, which travelled
separately, wintered
in Zambia (the male), Zimbabwe, South Africa and
Mozambique (the female),
approximately 9,350 and 11,350 km distant from their
nesting territory. The annual
cycles of the two birds differed considerably.
In 1998 the female spent 48 % of the year
on migration, 43 % at the nest site
and only 9 % in her winter quarters. The male spent
44 % in the breeding
territory, 35 % on migration and 21 % at his wintering grounds.
The length of
time spent on migration varied between 52 and 119 days (mean 81 days).
For
both birds the autumn migration was longer (74-119 days) than the spring
migration
(52-64 days). The speed while migrating varied during a single
journey and
from year to year. The fastest flying speed was achieved while
crossing the Sahara
desert. On average, the female always travelled more
slowly than the male. For both
birds, the greatest daily distance flown on
all migrations was 521 km over northern
Sudan. Cross-country speed was
ranging between 50 and 60 km/h were calculated
to be reached on eight out of
33 determinations. On one occasion, the cross-country
speed was as great as
66.8 km/h.
Delayed spring migration, which in recent years has frequently led to the
failure of
many pairs to breed, also occurred with this pair. This phenomenon
warrants further
research because of its obvious impact upon
breeding.