Abstract

CAMPOS-RODRIGUEZ, José Ismael; FLORES-LEYVA, Xhail; VICTORES-AGUIRRE, Myriam  and  LOZANO-ROMAN, Luis Felipe. New nesting territory of the Golden Eagle in Jalisco, Mexico. Huitzil [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.2, e645.  Epub Mar 31, 2023. ISSN 1870-7459.  https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2022.23.2.665.

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a threatened species, considered of conservation priority in Mexico, where prospection of new nesting territories, and nest studies are of importance. In this study, we identified a new nesting territory in the State of Jalisco, Mexico, and determined occupancy, number of nests and number of Golden Eagles. Observations were carried out in 2015, 2021 and 2022 in Cañón El Espía, at the Ojuelos de Jalisco-Lagos de Moreno border. In this period, we observed five Golden Eagles, including adults and immatures. Each year a breeding pair nested in the canyon, although the nesting pair in 2015 was not the same as that in 2021 and 2022. Nesting productivity was 0.333 fledglings/nest. We noted turnover of adult individuals replaced by juveniles that may indicate high Golden Eagle mortality, and could provoke the low productivity observed. Persecution by cattle ranchers and conflict with wind farms are two potential threats to Golden Eagles in this newly discovered nesting territory. Our findings are of relevance for conservation of the Golden Eagle in the state of Jalisco.

Keywords : birds of prey; nesting; raptors; reproductive output; threats.