Nest-site habitat selected by Short-toed Eagles Circaetus gallicus in Dadia forest (northeastern Greece)

Data concerning habitat characteristics and general physiographic characteristics at 29 Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus nest-sites (circular plot of 0.4 ha centred on the nest tree) were collected and compared with the same number of paired randomly selected plots in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest complex, northeast Greece. Short-toed Eagles used southern slopes for nesting and nest-sites were often located on the upper third of each slope. Nest trees were found significantly closer to rain water gullies, to the boundary of a different habitat type, and to the nearest forest opening greater than 0.5 ha than the randomly selected nest trees. Nest-sites had a significantly lower mean score of human disturbance than random sites and were found in mature pine forest associations, dominated by Calabrian Pine Pinus brutia or Black Pine P. nigra. The total tree density of Short-toed Eagle nest-sites was lower than random sites. Canopy cover in the dominant and intermediate tree layer at nest-sites was lower than at random sites. Short-toed Eagles tended to select sites for nesting that provided a combination of easy access and maximum shelter of the nest content from predators and inclement weather. The preservation of open structure of mature pine stands on south facing slopes near clearings may be critical for the continued conservation of the Short-toed Eagle in actively managed forests, such as the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest complex.