Endangered Chaco Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) Pair Successfully Completes Breeding after Human Reconstruction of Their Nest

Abstract

This is the first successful experimental implementation of an artificial nest for Chaco Eagles; the parents accepted the artificial nest at once and the young fledged successfully. However, although the pair stayed in the same breeding territory the following year, they did not choose the artificial nest for their next nesting attempt. Chaco Eagle adults commonly establish several nest platforms within their breeding territory, sometimes alternating between sites every year. Overall, the positive outcome reported here should encourage other researchers to consider using this option in emergency situations, particularly when working with an endangered species with low productivity (i.e., single egg and nestling per reproductive attempt) such as the Chaco Eagle. Given that habitat fragmentation is a major cause of population declines of Neotropical raptors , we suggest that this action could be replicated whenever nests become instable and susceptible to loss (e.g., fire, logging, or falling), as a way to preserve the original platforms and nests. Lastly, previous research has shown that this species can use human-made structures for nesting and tolerates direct management actions such as cross-fostering. This successful reconstruction of an active nest, together with the aforementioned experiences, indicates that Chaco Eagles may tolerate a variety of nest management actions that would be helpful for increasing breeding success to promote their conservation.