Fostering the settlement of Bonelli's eagle population in Sardinia

Introduction

In Sardinia, the Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata) became extinct between the 1980s and 1990s, probably because of the robbery of eggs/chicks and direct persecution, together with the impact of power lines. The reintroduction of the species in Sardinia began with Life Aquila a-LIFE in 2018.

Objectives

The objective of Life Abilas is to capitalize on the work done so far and obtain a viable and reproductive population of Bonelli's Eagle in Sardinia. This will be achieved by:

1. Continuing the releases at a rate of 8-10 individuals per year.
2. Addressing the main conservation issues of the species through various activities, including:
   • Securing of MV (Medium Voltage) power lines.
   • Securing small reservoirs and water tanks for irrigation use to prevent losses from drowning.
   • Increasing food availability in key areas and territories through the creation of sanitary controlled nuclei of an important prey species, the Wild Rabbit.
   • Promoting the use of non-toxic ammunition for small game hunting.

Economic Valuation

The project also aims to define an economic value for the species, which will be used in environmental assessments and/or in the definition of compensation measures for projects with environmental impacts. The economic value will be quantified through a large-scale survey and with the involvement of locally relevant stakeholder groups.

Data Utilization

Data about movements and territories of released Bonelli's eagles, along with GPS data of other species (e.g., golden eagle), will be used to prepare a sensitivity map. This map will be useful to guide the development of new wind farms and/or other projects in Sardinia.

Communication and Education

Communication efforts will be aimed at increasing knowledge on the ecology and main threats to the conservation of the species and birds of prey in general. This will also include the use of massive open online courses (MOOCs).

Artistic Engagement

Finally, art institutes in the region will be invited to submit a project for two murals featuring the Bonelli's Eagle as the subject. The selected projects will then be realized in highly visible areas of the region.