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INTER-SPECIFIC COMPETITION |
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In
circumstances of scarcity of favourable habitats and inconveniences due
to the human action, it may appear a factor of a natural kind that
affects also the populations of Bonelli´s Eagles: inter-specific
competition. So much in relation to the nourishing resources as to the
places of nest building, the most direct competitors of the Bonelli´s
Eagle are other birds of prey such as the Peregrine Falcon (Falco
peregrinus), the Eagle Owl (Bubo
bubo) and above all the
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
The Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
presents also a diet similar to that of Bonelli´s Eagle, but it
occupies different nesting areas. On the other hand, the Griffon Vulture
(Gyps fulvus) does not compete
with the eagles for food but they may do it for the places of nest
building. The territorial struggles with other species such as the Raven
(Corvus corax) and Common
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
are also frequent.
Though
the competition with other raptors species does not explain in itself
the widespread decrease of the populations of Bonelli´s Eagle, in
certain cases they may have a certain effect when it comes to impeding
the reoccupation of territories formerly left. For this reason it is
important to avoid the human actions that favour that the eagles end up
by leaving their territories. The best solution to prevent the inter-specific competition effect on the Bonelli´s Eagle is to support healthy populations of the predator. This implies reducing the mortality and preserving habitats rich in preys.
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