STUDY AREA

The study area where the work of control and monitoring of the species is carried out, is

the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León. Within this territorial scope, during the

years 2018-2019 the bulk of the research is being carried out in the province of

Valladolid, within the municipal terms of Herrera de Duero, Tudela de Duero, La

Cistérniga, Aldeamayor de San Martín and La Parrilla . This grid is located southeast of

Valladolid capital. The work area has an area of ??about 2524.93 hectares, in which about

27 pairs of booted eagles are controlled. These data show a high density of couples, 1

pp per 0.90 km2 (90.18 hectares). To carry out the work of control and monitoring of

the species, the administrative authorizations required of the General Directorate of the

Natural Environment of the Ministry of Development and Environment of Castilla y

León, as well as the Territorial Environment Service of Valladolid (EP / CYL /

37/2019).

METHODOLOGY

Due to the extensive knowledge that researchers have about the species, and one of the

objectives set within the project (use of the habitat in the periods proposed, set and

incubation and premigration), we will begin the actions on the date of arrival of the

adult couple in its breeding territory. The couple selected to carry out this research

project is located in the municipality of Herrera de Duero (Valladolid). They are two

adults of clear morpho. The couple has been known since 2018, having taken two light

morpho chickens in that year, and in 2019 a single light morpho chicken. The date of

arrival of this couple, thanks to the installation of photocamera cameras in the nest tree

during this 2019 season, was the female named Lucia on 03/25 and the male named

Badger on 03/30.

This is the moment chosen to carry out the capture of adults. To make the capture a

selective method, specific to the species and this pair, effective and safe for both

members will be carried out. The method of capture selected is through dhogaza

networks with use of live lure (domestic pigeon, Columba livia) or use of eagle owl

(Bubo bubo), which will be a die cut specimen, which can no longer be returned to

nature, provided by the Wild Bird Recovery Center (CRAS) of Valladolid. At no time,

the stamped owl specimen suffers no damage or stress. It is transferred from the center

by authorized personnel, it is protected at all times by the dhogaza networks, not being

accessible by the attack of booted eagles adults. The capture will be made between the

time slot from 08: 00-14: 00. The booted eagles at the time of detecting the eagle owl,

try to expel it from its territory by making repeated passes over it, at which time they

are trapped by the nets, which are detached from the lateral metal supports when

attached to the velcro. In this way, the bird does not suffer any problem in wings as it is

not retained in the tension web.

Throughout the process, the principal investigators will observe the entire process from

within a hide about 25-50 meters from the placement of the netting dhogaza. In this

way, in case of capture, they will quickly leave the hide to release the bird from the nets

and be able to handle it. At the time of releasing it from the nets, they will be fitted with

a specific booted eagles falconry hood to minimize the stress that could be derived from

the handling of the bird without covering the vision.

At the time of equipping the chickens with the emitters, the chickens will be expected to

be around 40 days old. In this way, both skeletal growth and the weight of the bird reach

their completion and asymptotic value. Climbs the nest by climbers, covering their

vision with the hoods and descending to them, in special bags for this purpose.

GPS / GSM DEVICES

The equipment that will be placed on the six roads, will be placed on the backs of the

birds by means of a thoracic harness attached with 11 mm Teflon tape with a breaking

point consisting of five points of waxed cotton thread topped with methacrylate. This

mounting system allows the harness to be released completely and in an innocuous way,

when the last thread of the breaking point is degraded, leaving at that time the four

straps that make up the harness. The process of capturing, taking biometric

measurements, plumage analysis and harness placement will be carried out by the two

principal investigators. It is a process that will not exceed half an hour of work. Once all

the handling is done, the adults will be released in the same capture area.

Two types of devices, GPS / GSM transmitters, will be used, depending on the sex of

the birds. The emitters selected for this project are OrniTrack-15 (for males) and

OrniTrack-20 (for females). They will be scheduled to take a location every hour

between 06:00 and 22:00. GPS / GSM transmitters show high accuracy with errors not

exceeding 10 meters. This great precision in the location, together with the ability to

download the data through the GSM (Global System for Mobile) mobile network, and

the possibility of being able to reconfigure the programming cycle based on user

demand on a daily basis , makes it the best equipment to track the roads.

The emitters would suppose 2.16% of the weight of the females and 2.33% of the

weight of the males, values ??these within the suitable range to mark this species of

raptor. Below are the main features of each of the models.

OrniTrack-15 - GPS-GSM / GPRS transmitter with solar energy

This 15 gram transmitter is suitable for birds that weigh 450 grams or more. Two

models available: with raised and standard solar panel.

Main Features:

? Housing: backpack design, aerodynamic, resistant and waterproof, can be done

in one of the five colors available.

Without external antennas

Size: weight 15 grams, dimensions 58 × 25 × 14 mm (standard).

GPS receiver: 99 channel high sensitivity module.

GSM transceiver: quad band 850/900/1800/1900.

Internal battery: lithium polymer with overload and overload protection.

 The fully charged battery is sufficient to register around 500 positions without

additional recharging (under an optimal GPS satellite view and no more than 20

sessions of loading GPRS data in a good network coverage).

Solar charger: high efficiency 22%.

GPS log intervals: from 1 second to 48 hours.

Data storage: 4 MB of flash memory capable of storing more than 60,000

records.

Data upload: through the GSM / GPRS network.

GSM / GPRS network connection interval: from 10 minutes to 192 hours.

SMS message with 10 GPS positions when the GPRS network is not available.

Registered data is stored in memory if the GSM network is not available

Geofences: 2 zones with separate parameter sets. User defined areas by multiple

rectangles (up to 10 per zone).

High frequency sensor data collection (up to 50 Hz) (accelerometer,

magnetometer, temperature, light intensity) in a separate program.

Feeling day and night.

Operating temperature: from -20 to + 70 ° C.

Control: the user remotely controls GPS and GSM schedules and geofence

settings.

The main data record includes: UTC date and time, GPS position, GPS altitude,

speed, direction, HDOP, battery voltage, battery charge current, instantaneous

acceleration (3 axes), ambient light intensity, temperature, magnetic field

strength (3 axes).

Firmware update by air transmitter (OTA).

OrniTrack-20 - GPS-GSM / GPRS transmitter with solar energy

This 17-20 gram transmitter is suitable for birds that weigh more than 550 grams.

Key Features:

? Housing: backpack design, aerodynamic, resistant and waterproof, can be done

in one of the five colors available.

Without external antennas.

Size: weight 17-20 grams, dimensions 58 × 25 × 14 mm.

GPS receiver: 99 channel high sensitivity module.

GSM transceiver: quad band 850/900/1800/1900 (2G module), or hexaband

800/850/900/1800/1900/2100 (3G module).

Internal battery: lithium polymer with overload and overload protection.

The fully charged battery is enough to register around 1,000 positions without

additional recharging (under an optimal GPS satellite view and no more than 20

sessions of GPRS data charging in good network coverage).

Solar charger: high efficiency 22%.

GPS log intervals: from 1 second to 48 hours.

Data storage: 4 MB