The white-tailed eagle is gradually regaining its place in Moselle
Credit : @Anthony Kohler
It is a beautiful bird that is threatened with extinction.. The white-tailed eagle, cousin of the bald eagle (symbol in particular of the United States), still timidly walks the air and the bodies of water of Moselle, but it is becoming rare. It is one of the largest diurnal birds of prey in Europe.quite simply, and he lives near water (ponds, rivers, lakes) where he will find his favorite food: birds, small mammals and fish – not difficult in the end.
Classified as critically endangered in Franceit benefits from a National Action Plan (NAP) which aims to promote its return and strengthen its genetic heritage. With its preservation mission, the Sainte-Croix Animal Park actively participates in this NAP and in the reintroduction of the species with the Eagles of Lake Geneva – sort of Volerie des Aigles XXL – as a partner.
A unique aviary
With this in mind of preservation and reintroduction, the Animal Park has designed an exceptional aviary of 650m² and 8m highin order to study and promote the natural behavior of these eagles. With the ambition to be one of the most beautiful in Europeits objective is to form a couple capable of reproducing, and who will return to the Aigles du Léman in order to reintroduce their young people on site. It is this Thursday, July 4 that the two specimens will be released into this aviary.
A museography and scenography have been created in the observation area to allow visitors to understand behaviors and lifestyle white-tailed eagles in the wild. An exhibition presenting 15 years of monitoring of the species in Moselle was also set up to promote his return to the territory, because yes, the eagle can be observed naturally in Moselle! Its return, in any case the first observation, dates from 2006, with a first proof of reproduction near the Park in 2011. In 2022 and 2023, the Sainte-Croix Animal Park was able to ring two young Moselle sea eagles to follow their adventures . And This year again, one of these young birds of prey was seen above the cormorant pond..
