Nest-site habitat selected by Short-toed Eagles Circaetus gallicus in Dadia forest (northeastern Greece)

Data concerning habitat characteristics and general physiographic character istics at 29 Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus nest-sites (circular plot of 0.4 ha centred on the nest tree) were collected and compared with the sa me number of paired randomly selected plots in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest complex, northeast Greece. Short-toed Eagles used southern slopes for nesti ng and nest-sites were often located on the upper third of each slope. Nest trees were found significantly closer to rain water gullies, to the bounda ry of a different habitat type, and to the nearest forest opening greater t han 0.5 ha than the randomly selected nest trees. Nest-sites had a signific antly lower mean score of human disturbance than random sites and were foun d in mature pine forest associations, dominated by Calabrian Pine Pinus bru tia or Black Pine P. nigra. The total tree density of Short-toed Eagle nest -sites was lower than random sites. Canopy cover in the dominant and interm ediate tree layer at nest-sites was lower than at random sites. Short-toed Eagles tended to select sites for nesting that provided a combination of ea sy access and maximum shelter of the nest content from predators and inclem ent weather. The preservation of open structure of mature pine stands on so uth facing slopes near clearings may be critical for the continued conserva tion of the Short-toed Eagle in actively managed forests, such as the Dadia -Lefkimi-Soufli forest complex.