Photo: © Mihail Iliev
Are you wondering where Iliya spent his vacation? Those following his journey already know that the eagle from Dobruja spent the whole summer in Romania, with a brief stop in Ukraine. Like a true wanderer, Iliya explored the Braila region, reached the shores of Lake Cahul, but didn’t stay in any place for long. In early September, the young bird started its migration to Africa, stopping by its birthplace, then spending the night in Istanbul, and quickly flying over our southern neighbor. On September 12, Iliya made a surprising flight over the Mediterranean Sea to Jordan, but soon returned to the area around Mersin to continue his journey.
During the summer of 2023, the eagle explored Turkey, and although we expected him back on home ground, he chose to stay in the south. According to ornithologists from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), he was likely attracted by the rich food resources in the area. Even in Africa, the flyer from Dobruja continued to roam, visiting more than 10 countries, without settling anywhere for long. What he will do this winter remains to be seen.
The bird, tagged with a transmitter as part of the LIFE project “LIFE for Eagle’s habitats” turned out to be the biggest traveler among all the Lesser Spotted Eagles monitored by BSPB experts for several years. Iliya’s flight can be tracked in real-time HERE.