National and International Eagle Count 2019
The Hungarian Ornithological Society (MME) made the 16th Hungarian Eagle count in mid January. This time it was also the 2nd Pannonian Eagle Census which was coordinated by MME but included six countries and 20 different participating organizations. During this event over 488 observers counted wintering eagles all over Hungary, Austria, Cezch Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia. The most common eagle was White-tailed Eagle with 992-1060 individuals and about 725-748 was counted in Hungary alone. The Hortobágy region had 75 White-tailed Eagles of which around 30 were counted at the feeding stations operated by Sakertours. However the Hortobágy area always have more eagles in February and just one single feeding station held 46 White-tailed Eagles yesterday (8th February).
This eagle count resulted in 509-538 Eastern Imperial Egales of which 397-411 was observed in Hungary. Also a few Golden and Greater Spotted Eagles were observed and an additional 11 000 individual raptors of 13 other species was counted.
Although these numbers may seem high, eagles are still fairly rare. Even on the most densly populated areas only an average of 4,5 White-tailed Eagles and 2,5 Imperial Eagles were recorded in every 100 km2 stated the summary of the survey.
Sakertour team
White-tailed Eagles in the Hortobágy area which has the most concentrated number of White-tailed Eagle sin the Pannonian region. Images by Márk Kovács.