Dead white-tailed eagle near record large Published 24.10.2008

The Greenlandic white-tailed eagles are on average larger than the nominate form distributed from Northern Europe to Kamchatka in Eastern Russia. A white-tailed eagle brought to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources by Martin Gjødvad, Nuuk, had a wingspan of 242 cm, only to be reached by females. The cause of death is unknown for this adult bird.

On october 28th ranger Magnus Petersen, Paamiut, found another young white-tailed eagles near Paamiut after information by locals. This bird had a broken wing and was put down, to be shipped to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources.

If you find a dead bird in the nature that has not a season, according to the hinting law, you are obliged to bring it to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. It is not allowed to stuff out such birds. The Institute will also receive dead raptors even if they are not freshly dead. Every year several white-tailed eagles, peregrines and gyr falcons are brought to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. AS humans, raptors are at the top of the food pyramid, where environmental poisons are concentrated, possibly in lethal concentrations. It is therefore important to have these birds examined for the cause of death.

The Greenlandic white-tailed eagle has been totally protected since 1973.