One of the largest birds of prey spotted in Croatia after 71 years

Golden eagle

After more than 70 years, one of the largest and the most striking birds of prey has been sighted again in Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park. 

A young Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was captured on camera on the morning of 27 March 2024, in the wilderness area of the Park open only to expert and research teams, Plitvice Lakes National Park said.

Based on available information, the last sighting of this species within the Plitvice Lakes National Park was 71 years ago, back on August 1st, 1953.

Thanks to the efforts of the park’s experts and conservationists, the Golden Eagle has been spotted and filmed again.

“It would be interesting to learn if the sighted bird came from the nesting grounds in Lička Plješivica or somewhere closer to our Park. This elusive species avoids humans, which is why we usually find it only in remote and not easily accessible mountain areas,” the Park said. 

Once widespread, it has disappeared from many areas that are heavily populated by humans. 

The Golden Eagle has a wingspan of over 2 meters, it is one of the fastest flyers and a supreme predator. In Croatia, it is a rare and critically endangered (CR), strictly protected species of nesting bird, with between 20 and 25 couples present, which makes every sighting precious.

The Golden Eagle is increasingly under threat due to habitat loss, disturbance, hunting, poisoning, electrocution and wind turbine generators installed near its nesting grounds.

This year, the BIOM association initiated the project of counting the Golden Eagle in Croatia.

See video below: