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04.10.2021

Project LIFE AQPOM completed - significant work for protection of lesser spotted eagle has been done

On September 2021 Latvian Fund for Nature concluded EU LIFE programme project “LIFE AQPOM. Conservation arrangements for lesser spotted eagle in Latvia” which has been a very important step towards conservation of the species. Latvia is home to a third of EU lesser spotted eagles (Clanga pomarina) and therefore a very important area for species conservation on European scale. During the five years of the project significant work has been done in order to restore habitats suitable for lesser spotted eagle, 500 new lesser spotted eagle nests have been found, more than 400 microreserves established, also species protection plan has been updated. Besides the work done on conservation side, the project also enlightened several significant shortcomings of nature protection system in Latvia.

04.06.2021

Application for International Conference on the Lesser Spotted Eagle now open

Latvian Fund for Nature and the project team of EU LIFE+ project LIFE13 NAT/LV/001078 “Conservation arrangements for Lesser Spotted Eagle in Latvia” (LIFE AQPOM) invites experts from all over the Europe to the International Conference on the Lesser Spotted Eagle. The conference aims to gather species experts from all European range countries to share their experience.

13.05.2021

Nature Documentary ‘Lesser Spotted Eagles in Latvia’ Has Been Filmed

The Latvian Fund for Nature and the Art Foundation RUCKA have released a new documentary nature film ‘Lesser Spotted Eagles in Latvia’ that will be available to audiences on May 7 on the streaming site LMT Straume and LMT Smart TV. The director and cinematographer of the film is Māris Maskalāns, and the film tells about a special bird in Latvia – the lesser spotted eagle. Latvia is home to one-fifth of the world's lesser spotted eagle population; thus, we are a very important country in preserving the lesser spotted eagle as a species on a global scale. The film was made within the framework of the EU LIFE program project ‘Conservation Arrangements for Lesser Spotted Eagle in Latvia’.

Live stream

What is the life of lesser spotted eagle like? What does it eat? How does it behave while nesting? Webcams are a tool that allows to follow the life of birds very closely. The obtained information can be useful for researchers in order to understand better the behaviour and habit of birds.

Therefore we have installed two webcams at lesser spotted eagle nests in Latvia. The first broadcasting season was in 2018.

One of the nests 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 other 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 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.

In 2020 the broadcasting was resumed.