Evolution of the French population of Bonelli's Eagle

With reason of the publication of the French translation of our Web, we have believed opportune to prepare one news about the state and the evolution of the French population of Bonelli's Eagle. The present distribution of the population includes different nuclei located in the regions in the Southeastern of France: Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur and Rhône-Alps. It's possible to emphasize that the most southern nucleus gets to overlap with the territories located more to the north of the Catalan population. 

The French population experienced throughout century XX a reduction of the number of pairs rather more drastic than the registered in other populations of the western sector of the Mediterranean with also a decreasing evolution (Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia). It is estimated that throughout first half of century XX the number of pairs oscillated between 85 and 87. At the end of the seventies the number had been reduced to 55-57, but the more pronouncing reduction took place at the beginning of eighties, so that at the end of the nineties the population had been reduced right to half. The main causes of this reduction are at present attributed to the high mortality, mainly due to the electrocution, and the problems in the breeding areas that originate the failure of the reproduction. The direct persecution (mainly by firings) has been considered as the following main threat for the species. 

The year 2002 the number of pairs comes to a minimum of 23, but it has been possible to stop this negative tendency and the population has become stabilized between the 26-29 pairs, according to the years. At the beginning of eighties, naturalistic and nature protection associations, public administrations and research laboratories joined their efforts to try to safeguard this species. In 1999, this collaboration was made official within the framework of the "National Plan of Recovery of Bonelli's Eagle". Without a doubt, this will contribute of decisive way to guarantee a more hopeful future for the Bonelli's Eagle in France. 

We are very grateful to the contribution of Fabrice Bosca, coordinator of the "National Plan of Recovery of the Bonelli's Eagle", agent of the mission in the "Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels du Languedoc-Roussillon" (Montpellier), who has facilitated to us the necessary information for the preparation of this writing.