This year two short-toed snake eagle chicks have been fitted with identification rings within the area of the Kiskunság National Park Directorate. This cautious species despite its relatively large body size, builds surprisingly small nests high in pine trees, where finding them is a challenge for experts. Feeding almost exclusively on reptiles, little is known about their ecology and behaviour due to their secretive lifestyle.
Since the 1960s it was primarily described as a mid-mountain breeding species, however nowadays there are 7-10 pairs known to inhabit the Kiskunság.
Since 2017, the staff of the Kiskunság National Park Directorate (KNPD) and BirdLife Hungary (MME) have organised annual surveys to locate nests to ensure the safety of the breeding and to collect scientifically valuable data.
In recent years, fewer chicks have been found in nests, this year however, two relatively late nests were found. The short-toed snake eagles lay a single egg. This case was no different, one chick was ringed in each of the two nests.
These colour rings - similar to those of stork, which can be read from a distance - already proved to be efficient for identifying shorted-toed eagle individuals. By using these unique markings, the effort will contribute to the conservation of this rare bird of prey.
In 2022-2023, a survey of short-toed snake eagles in the Kiskunság was carried out with the support of the GRASSLAND-HU LIFE integrated project.
Source: Zoltán Turny, Kiskunság National Park Directorate
Photo by Srikanth 1407 / Wikipedia