Burial ground - description, habitat, interesting facts

Eagles are rightfully considered the most majestic and powerful birds. If you follow the legends and beliefs, some peoples associate eagles with deities. It has long been believed that during military battles an eagle flying over an army promises victory and luck. Today we will consider a representative of the family - the burial ground. If you follow the data, then the bird was nicknamed just so due to the peculiarity of eating carrion. However, over time, this fact has been refuted many times.

Description

1. The bird is a species of predator, it is large and self-respecting. The burial ground is famous for its huge powerful wings and the same impressive tail. At one glance at the presented individual, it becomes clear that it can kill a fox to death.
2. By its overall features, namely the size of the hull, the burial ground sometimes reaches 90 cm. If we take into account the fact that the wingspan is 2 m, the bird looks menacing. As for the weight category, birds are downed and powerful, body weight varies in the area of ​​2-5 kg.
3. By external characteristics, individuals of this breed group are compared with golden eagles. They belong to the same family and are similar in type, both predators. Interestingly, the burial ground is listed in the Red Book as a protected species.
4. In the spread state, the wings are huge, the tail is slightly smaller. It is usually painted in a dark or black shade. In some individuals, spots on the plumage may be observed, in harmony with the general coloring.
5. Also, whitish large spots are often visible on the body. In the matter of studying individuals of this breed group, it is worth remembering that birds can change color several times before their 6 years of life. Also, young animals are lighter than adults.
6. Some people wonder what kind of voice this species has. You can hear it during the mating season, the male becomes grouchy and often screams. As a rule, sounds are made rough and loud. If the birds live nearby, then you can hear them within a radius of one kilometer. Exclamations are similar to the barking of dogs, "kav kav" or "krav krav" is alternately repeated.

Lifestyle

1. In burial grounds, the period of reproduction and further reproduction of the genus originates in the early spring, approximately in March. Males are fully armed, soar in the sky, proudly spreading their wings. They fly for a long time to attract the attention of females. Relations are formed forever when two individuals choose each other.
2. In the future, individuals of male and female sex everywhere will live together, not parting in heaven and on earth during the wintering period. When a place for the construction of a dwelling is chosen, the couple are closely engaged in preparatory activities. It is necessary to build a high-quality nest so that a few more years you can fly into it.
3. As a rule, members of the family prefer tall old trees away from other eyes. The dwelling is located at an altitude of 15-25 m, so that no one can get to the eggs and chicks. Birds use large-caliber twigs and twigs, and fill the inner section with manure, needles, moss, etc. The female and the male together build a nest, but the female individual directs and is responsible for everything.
4. As for the masonry, the female gives 1-3 eggs, laying them in turn at intervals of a couple of days. For the same reason, the chicks appear gradually, one after another. Hatching lasts about 40 days, sometimes longer. When the babies are born, the newly-born mother will not leave them, warming and feeding.
5. While the family’s mother is busy warming the chicks, the father goes hunting and brings prey to the family.In some cases, the very last chick that is born dies due to constant competition with older offspring. But these cases are single. The younger generation becomes winged after 80 days.

Nutrition

1. If we compare the burial grounds with other representatives of the eagle subspecies, then these individuals are not very mobile. For this reason, burial grounds do not try to keep up with quick prey, choosing food more affordable. The main menu of these birds consists mainly of rodents, ground squirrels, jerboas, marmots, hares or small birds.
2. At the same time, it is difficult to catch the burial ground on the fly, he waits for the prey to sit down. Since by their overall characteristics these individuals require up to 0.2 kg. feed, then you need to eat regularly. Of the birds, the burial ground chooses what to feast on. Usually, quail, partridge, capercaillie, etc. are served as a meal.
3. But it was not for nothing that these individuals were called precisely burial grounds; they feed on carrion. Moreover, such food forms the basis of the basic diet. In spring, they have no choice but to search for dead carcasses of mammals. They also eat turtles and frogs, waiting for food while in the sky.

Breeding

1. Mature individuals become at 6 years old. They create a couple for life. Mating time falls on March, birds settle for this period in Europe. Signaling a desire to be together, males are courting females.
2. The male begins to rise into the sky, after which he falls down at a tremendous speed and screams. The female does not make noisy exclamations, but she is happy to participate in such matters.
3. After the individuals in question select a place and build a nest on it, they introduce offspring in the same place for many years. Often birds build houses on trees at an altitude of up to 25 m from the ground. Most often, burial grounds prefer tall trees. Among these, it is worth highlighting oak, pine, poplar, larch, aspen and alder.
4. Almost always, nests are located on the tops of trees. If this is not possible, to equip the home, birds build a nest on low rocks or shrubs. Both partners are involved in creating the habitat. But it is worth noting that the female makes more effort. The result is a fairly large nest. Thick branches and knots are taken as a basis.
5. The bottom of the nest is lined with dry bark, dung, twigs and wool. The diameter of the new home can reach up to 1.5 m in diameter. At the same time, the height of the nest is about 70 cm. Over time, its size increases. Pairs that breed offspring for a long time upset the nest up to 2.5 m in diameter. The height is about 1.8 m.
6. If the nests of the cemeteries are empty for a long time, they are occupied by saker falcons. As a result, such birds can even drive out the considered animals forever. Sparrows, wagtails and jackdaws often settle near old nests. At one time, the female burial ground lays up to 3 eggs. They have a whitish hue with violet spots.
7. If eggs were lost during the first laying, the female lays still, but only in a new nest. After 1.5 months, chicks begin to appear. Both parents are busy. However, the female spends most of the time in the nest. Offspring are born in whitish feathers.
8. The first week, the mother always stays with the chicks in the nest. At this time, the male protects the family and obtains food for all. After another 2 weeks, the chicks begin to cover with feathers. After 2-2.5 months, the young learn to fly. After that, the chicks leave the house and prepare for the first flight to winter.

Habitat

1. Often the habitat of the birds in question are the steppes, which smoothly pass into the forests. The main criterion for birds remains the presence of water and tall trees. Such individuals are migratory. Therefore, burial grounds winter in one place, and nesting takes place in another.
2. The burial grounds always remember their usual habitats, therefore they always return home. Often, such birds can be found in the Caucasus, in Asia, Europe and Africa. In addition, the population is often found in India, Iraq, Turkey and Israel. Individuals that live cold in cold regions, winter in the south.

Interesting Facts

1. The birds in question are also often called the “Imperial Eagle”. The burial grounds received this name due to their behavior and posture. Such traits are very distinguished from the rest of the relatives.
2. The burial grounds received their not-so-bright name because of the peculiarities of biology, and not because of the way of life. Naturalists of the Urals so called birds back in the late 19th century. Such individuals often sat near stone mausoleums.
3. In most European countries, individuals are called "Imperial Eagles". Such birds are considered one of the strongest on the planet. People admire their fearlessness and militancy.
4. In ancient times, there was a custom that when a person died, his body was given to eat by eagles. As soon as the individual ate the liver, people believed that the deceased was reborn into an eagle and continued to live. Many people know that the eagle is a symbol of vision, wisdom and courage.
5. The considered individuals are listed in the Red Book. Unfortunately, at present, there are very few places that will meet all the conditions that eagles need. In addition, the birds will not have enough food.
6. In most cases, the eagle population is declining due to human factors. People in agriculture use pesticides. In addition, poachers hunt eagles. Forests are constantly being cut down, fires occur.

The burial grounds are predatory bird species. They are unique in nature. Unfortunately, due to human activities, the population of individuals has greatly decreased. Currently, birds are under protection, the species is more or less at a stable mark.

Video: burial ground (Aquila heliaca)