A SHORT TOED EAGLE, ringed by Francesco Petretti in 1989, was recovered still alive , in Tolfa Hills, 9 km from the nesting site where it was born, in September 2012. The specimen , which unfortunately died soon after the recovery, was at least 23 years and four months old.
This is its story.
P0845 was a Short toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) Francesco Petretti ringed in 1989.
“The eagle was born on the 18th of May 1989 in Tolfa Hills, 40 km
north of Rome. The parental pair built the nest on a very large
deciduous oak tree covered with ivy on the north facing slope of the
hill, at 400 metres of altitude.
On the 27th of June 1989 P0845 reached the maximum weight of 1,800
grams, than the weight decreased, as it is usual among fledging
eagles in the study area, and on the 17th of July, when the eagle
left the nest, she weighed 1,680 grams.
She was fitted with a backpack radio for ground telemetry and moved
in the home range for a couple of months. Francesco lost contact
with her on the 20th of September 1989, when the eagle probably left
the area to reach the wintering ground in Africa.
On the 16th of September 2012 the body of P0845 was found dead only
9 km from the ringing site. The body was brough to the Raptor
Center in Vico Lake Nature Reserve, but death causes are unknown.
P0845 was at least 23 years and 4 months old and I suppose this is
a longevity record for the species.”
Francesco Petretti
