Movements of juvenile Bonelli's eagles aquila Fasciata during dispersal

Capsule Juvenile non-breeding males and females explored surrounding areas, returned to breeding areas, and settled in temporary settlement areas. Aims To describe movement patterns of juvenile Bonelli's Eagles during the transient phase of dispersal. Methods Radiotelemetry data from 16 individuals were studied. Results Six main temporary settlement areas were located. No sex differences were found in the time to first departure from natal areas, time to the first temporary settlement, or time of the first return to natal areas. Juvenile eagles did not settle in temporary settlement areas until they were, on average, 245 days old. In general, males and females did not differ in their movement patterns during the early part of the dispersal period. However, after approximately 500 days males spent 60.8% of their time exploring surrounding areas, probably with the aim of searching for vacant territories or mates, whereas females of the same age devoted 26.7% of their time to exploration. Conclusion Movements and use of sites during the transient phase of dispersal are complex. They have important implications for the conservation of this endangered species. © 2009 British Trust for Ornithology.Peer Reviewe