War in Ukraine Forces Eagles to Change Migration Routes, Affecting Their Breeding

Eagles migrating from East Africa to their breeding grounds via Ukraine are altering their routes to avoid conflict zones caused by the aggressive Russian war. These detours, extending up to 250 kilometres, could negatively impact their breeding, according to a study by a group of British scientists and ornithologists, as reported by The Guardian.

Using GPS data, scientists analysed the routes of 19 greater spotted eagles flying through Ukraine to southern Belarus in March and April 2022. These routes were compared with those recorded from 2018 to 2021. The researchers found that the greatest deviations from the direct route occurred in areas with high levels of combat activity.

Since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, the eagles have added an average of 85 extra kilometres to their journeys. One eagle deviated as much as 250 kilometres from its usual path, the ornithologists noted.

This resulted in a significant increase in travel time, averaging an additional 55 hours. Furthermore, the flight speed of the males, migrating from East Africa, decreased compared to the pre-war period.

The scientists also observed that while 90% of eagles previously stopped in Ukraine, only 32% did so in 2022. Consequently, the birds likely needed more energy to reach their breeding grounds.

Despite the disturbances, some birds appeared unaffected by the conflict. For instance, an eagle named Borovets continued to fly through Kyiv despite the intense fighting around the city in the spring of 2022. Another eagle, Denisa, only slightly altered her route, flying just a few kilometres from the explosions and battles in the Kyiv region.

Overall, the ornithologists noted that such deviations observed in most of the studied eagles could cause breeding problems, as the birds may require more time to recover. This could also adversely affect the survival chances of their offspring, as the parents would be more exhausted and have less energy for hunting prey for their chicks.