Golden Eagles of Montesinho
Photomontage of Golden Eagles (Águia-real) in Parque Natural de Montesinho
Over the last few years we have occasionally seen Golden Eagles in the park, mainly in the remoter area near to the village of Montesinho. It has been our ambition to get a closer look at these magnificent birds. We also know that wolves occasionally roam this area.
We use remote cameras in Woodcock Wood, and have long thought it would be fascinating to set one in Montesinho Park to see just what we could capture on film.
The bait was a cow’s head from a butcher. We selected a spot where we had seen adult and juvenile Golden Eagles in previous years, in an area that straddles the Portuguese / Spanish border.
Day one – 23rd October
We tethered the bait and fixed the camera, and left the scene late afternoon. The forecast was that beautiful autumn mix of rain, wind, and a little sun …. and waited a week.
What did we expect?
At worst nothing, or perhaps an early discovery by hunters’ dogs; at best Golden Eagles or wolves; most likely Red Foxes, Crows (Gralha-preta) or perhaps Ravens (Corvo).
What did we get?
Six hundred plus images and videos of Golden Eagles, plus a few other surprises!
Day Two – 24th
The camera was triggered for the first time at 8.20 the following morning by a juvenile Golden Eagle. The bird spent an hour and 40 minutes at the head eating solidly. It then appeared briefly at 11.30 and again at 12.08 …. and that was it for the day.
Juveniles have more of a preference for carrion than adult Golden Eagles, hence their vulnerability to poisoned bait, either left intentionally, or left to kill foxes etc. It isn’t just in UK on the grouse moors that these beautiful birds are persecuted illegally.
This young eagle will be about 7 to 8 months old. In this area, eggs will be laid in February or early March, and the bird will have fledged around July. It is usual for only one chick to survive. As with many raptors, it is common for the older chick to kill its young sibling – see for instance our observation of the Common Buzzard in Woodcock Wood earlier this year: https://woodcockwood.com/buzzards-at-the-nest-part-2-fledging/
Day Three – 25th
An overcast day, turning into strong wind and rain – the juvenile eagle appeared at 9.30, and ate solidly until 11.00. At 1.30 a Red Fox makes a cautious appearance. It circles the bait and moves on – very wise, as a Golden Eagle is well able to take an adult fox.
At 2.00 the adult Golden Eagle arrives.
… and within a short time the juvenile arrives. It can be heard above the noise of the wind calling plaintively, but it remains out of view. After half an hour the adult moves away from the head, and the juvenile takes its place.
The weather is now awful! The pair stay with the carcass intermittently for the rest of the day. The juvenile in fact is there until well after dark, finally leaving at 7.00pm. It is then that the our other friends appear!
The Creatures of the Night!
The Red Fox is the main contender. At first very wary, but later it tackles the head full on. It makes several visits during the night. For some reason the camera didn’t trigger on the moment that the main part of the head was removed, but it seems likely the fox was the culprit. The lower jaw remains tethered.
Day Three – 26th
The juvenile arrives at 8.00. There is obviously still something on the carcass worth picking at. The juvenile is joined by the adult at 9.00.
They both leave. The juvenile briefly returns on two occasions, but there is too little on the carcass to interest it.
We see no more of the eagles, but we have one more visitor that night.
When we arrived to collect the camera on the 30th we were puzzled by the disappearance of the main part of the head. The cord that tethered the lower jaw to the ground had been stapled in place with two long steel pegs. This was missing, along with the pegs! The lower part of the jaw was close by. The cord was neatly severed on either side, a few centimetres from the jaw bone.
The 3 hour walk to França was full of speculation as to what had happened. We were nowhere near to guessing!!
This video is the result
With thanks to Eugenia for acquiring the head!
Chris and Chris, 8th November 2020
See also Bait in Bird Photography and Conservation Research: https://woodcockwood.com/bait-in-bird-photography-and-conservation-research/
For more about Parque Natural de Montesinho see our other site:
http://www.livinginnortheastportugal.com
and in particular:
https://livinginnortheastportugal.woodcockwood.com/?p=189
https://livinginnortheastportugal.woodcockwood.com/?p=177
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