In response to an invitation from the National Library of Latvia, Uģis Bergmanis, senior environmental expert at AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM), has prepared an entry for the National Encyclopaedia of Latvia on a specially protected bird species in Latvia – the lesser spotted eagle. The entry offers readers concise and easily digestible information about the species' origins, taxonomy, way of life and population status.
“The lesser spotted eagle is one of the most thoroughly studied bird species in Latvia, and AS “Latvijas valsts meži” has made a considerable contribution to its research and protection. The information gathered through the company's lesser spotted eagle monitoring programme and in the “LVM GEO” geospatial database underpins several internationally recognised publications and is an irreplaceable resource in drawing up the species protection plan. What is more, by analysing the data geospatially we can arrive at further conclusions that are significant for forest management. The information the company has accumulated about lesser spotted eagles was used in preparing the entry for the National Encyclopaedia of Latvia,” explains Uģis Bergmanis, senior environmental expert at LVM.
The lesser spotted eagle monitoring carried out by LVM substantially supplements the birds of prey monitoring information collected by public administration institutions, because LVM's lesser spotted eagle monitoring provides data not only on the number of pairs observed, but also on breeding success, which is one of the most important parameters describing a species' population.
A contribution to research on the species
Under the LVM environmental education and research project “Putni un zvēri purvā”, anyone interested can, for the eighth year running, watch changes in nature online and follow the activities of birds and animals in one of the bogs of Latvia's north-eastern region. Since the cameras were installed, it has been possible to confirm a number of assumptions about the breeding success of lesser spotted eagles and golden eagles, their daily lives and how they cope with various challenges, such as searching for food and fighting off competitors. The live cameras have made it possible to glimpse everyday moments in the lives of birds and forest animals that had never before been seen by the human eye.
“References to the information about the lesser spotted eagle's diet obtained during our research project have also appeared in several international scientific journals. The information gathered confirms that the species is chiefly affected by the management of agricultural land – in other words, lesser spotted eagles depend on the presence of various types of grassland,” explains Uģis Bergmanis.
LVM environmental experts have provided informational support for the National Encyclopaedia of Latvia, produced by the National Library of Latvia, on previous occasions as well. For example, Mārtiņš Kalniņš, head of environmental planning at LVM, has written encyclopaedia entries on dragonflies and on dragonflies in Latvia, as well as on odonatology and odonatology in Latvia, while Ilze Kukāre, senior environmental expert at LVM, once assisted in producing an entry on rock outcrops and on cave and karst ecosystems in Latvia.