Duration: 2005-2006 

Acopian Center for the Environment
Yerevan State University

In 2005 we have started a pilot survey of raptors at the forest area of AragatsMountain. We would like to find out possibilities of long term monitoring of raptor species. One of the main objectives of the project was the practical independent research education of the students of YerevanStateUniversity and PedagogicalUniversity. All the work of the field year of 1995 was performed by the BA last year students Maro Kochinyan and Hayk Harutyunyan. They were assisted by couple of younger students and several volunteers of the “Birds of Armenia” project. The research was done under the direct supervision of senior scientific researcher Karen Aghababyan. In the course of the research 6 long term field trips were held in the research region.

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Forest area of Aragats mountain

The forest area of Aragats is rather small but includes nearly all diurnal forest raptor species found in Armenia.

Particularly we found the following species:

 

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus – 1*
Black Kite Milvus migrans – 1
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus – 1
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo – 4
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina – 1
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus – 1
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus – 2
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis – 1

 

*quantity is given in pairs

Nestlings of Common Buzzard(Buteo buteo)

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Photos of “Raptors of Aragats” project

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Nest of Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina        Eggs of Lesser Spotted Eagle  Aquila pomarina
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Nest of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Eggs of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
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Nest tree of Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus                                  Egg of Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus

 

Below is the copy of article published in Russian Conservation News No.39 Summer 2005

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