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Multimodal data helps in identifying spatio-temporal patterns and habitat associations of Aquila chrysaetos (Golden Eagle) in Finland

Rondon, Diego1; Karabanina, Ekaterina1; Aspi, Jouni1; Kvist, Laura1; Sillanpää, Mikko J.1

Research facility: University of Oulu
Published Oct 12, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.41ns1rnsg

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Abstract

Understanding the spatial distribution of individuals is essential for effective species conservation. We investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of  Aquila chrysaetos  (golden eagle) in Finland using nest surveys, citizen science observations, and environmental data from 1982 to 2021. We extended a popular N-mixture model to estimate population abundance while accounting for the number of recently hatched nestlings, the spatial distribution, and correcting for biases in the observation process, all integrated into a two-stage Bayesian hierarchical model. Results of our model aligned with the previously known north-oriented distribution of A. chrysaetos in Finland, supporting its applicability to A. chrysaetos and other species with similar ecological requirements and life-history traits. Furthermore, we observed the highest densities of successful nests near open landscapes, such as marshes and peat bogs, whereas dense forests, port areas, and areas of high human population density had a strong negative effect. While the temporal trend of nest abundance has remained constant over the years, the overall population abundance showed an increasing trend until 2007, after which it stabilized. Finally, we detected a higher amount of A. chrysaetos movements in southern and southwestern Finland than elsewhere in Finland, opening up new possible areas for conservation targets.