Less than two weeks ago a 2nd cy Imperial Eagle was found poisoned south of Bükk National Park, Hungary. Fortunately, the bird was given antidote within half an hour and this saved his life.
Since 2008 this has been the third known poisoning incidents in the area resulting in the loss of a total of 3 territorial adult Imperial Eagles.
This time the staff of the Hortobágy Bird Hospital and Bird Park http://www.madarpark.hu provided professional medical treatment to the young eagle till its release near Tard village on 22nd April.
Andras Kleszo, local ranger of the Bükk National Park Directorate, with the rehabilitated eagle.
The bird flew well, soared relatively high and successfully avoided the attacks of a Common Buzzard. He was observed three days later and seemed sound.
Till 2004 we had practically no data about poisoned Imperial Eagles in Hungary. From 2005 the number of poisoning incidents drastically increased and among hundreds of other raptors 45 (!) Eastern Imperial Eagles have been found poisoned since then. Obviously, not only eagles but other birds of prey and mammalian raptors are aimed; however, illegal poisoning became the most significant human-induced mortality factor for eagles besides electrocution on medium-voltage power lines.
You can find more information, unfortunately in Hungarian, on the MME/BirdLife Hungary’s website:
http://www.mme.hu/termeszetvedelem/madarakesmergek.html
Hopefully, the national anti-poisoning project starting from 2012 will reduce significantly the level of illegal poisoning.
Best wishes, András
