L’Aigle pomarin a niché dans le Jura français en 2005

The Lesser Spotted-Eagle (Aquila pomarina) is a middle-sized migratory Eagle which occurs in the eastern part of central Europe, eastern and south-eastern Europe from North-east Germany and Estonia in the north to Greece in the south. It breeds in forest but feeds on adjacent pastures, cultivated areas and wet meadows. A very important factor in the choice of nest sites is the presence of open landscape near to the nest. It hunts over open fields and agricultural areas. In lowlands important features of the feeding habitat are single standing trees or tree groups, hay stacks, masts or other vertical structures enabling successful hunting for the eagle in unfavourable weather conditions such as prolonged rain.
It has shown major population declines in large parts of its (former) western range, e.g. in Germany, former Yugoslavia etc. During the last century it has disappeared or almost disappeared from several countries or areas where it bred, e.g. former West Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, large parts of Greece, in some cases only a few decades ago.
In 2005, a pair of Lesser Spotted-Eagles has succefully bred in the French Jura, with a clutch of two chicks, which both fledged (a very good success rate). It is the first case of reproduction of this species in France since the 19th century!