Nationalpark Hohe Tauern
Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol

The Hohe Tauern National Park covers an area of over 1,800 km² . The Park includes areas of the Austrian Provinces of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol. The Hohe Tauern National Park, together with the bordering Nature Park Rieserferner-Ahrn (Autonomous Province of Bozen) and also the bordering Zillertal Alps Nature Park (Tyrol), form the largest spatially integrated nature reserve of the Alps. The Hohe Tauern National Park embraces a range of alpine habitats from montane woodlands to the highest peaks of the Eastern Alps (Grossglockner 3,798 m).

In the Hohe Tauern National Park the fieldwork was done by Norbert Winding, Michael Knollseisen, Robert Lindner and Christian Sichler. They were supported by staff of the national park and by local hunters. Altogether 162 eyries were documented, most of them at an altitude between 1,500-1,900 m, with the lowest eyrie at 1,100 m and the highest at 2,100 m.

2003

All together a total of 33 breeding pairs of Golden Eagles was recorded. Two more pairs seemed likely, but could not be confirmed in 2003. For 26 pairs the breeding success was documented. The success rate in 2003 was 0.54 fledged eagles per pair. All together 150 Horste Eagle nests were recorded and documented in detail. Only 8 nests were built in trees all the others were situated in cliffs.

2004

In 2004 additional pairs of Golden Eagles were confirmed. This was mainly in areas where last years data did not reveal clear information about the breeding status of eagles. The population of Golden Eagles in the “Hohe Tauern” ares can therefore be estimated between 38-40 pairs. The breeding success of 28 pairs was monitored in detail. These pairs raised a total of 22 young eagles. This results in a breeding success rate of 0.79 fledglings per pair – a very high average value. One of the reasons for this high success rate was that two pairs managed to raise 2 young eagles.

2005

In 2005 again two new breeding pairs could be confirmed. Therfore the total known population in the National Park Hohe Tauern now comprises 42 to 43 pairs, with one pair occupying a territory right on the border of the National Park. Hence the National Park Hohe Tauern is home to roughly 12 % of the estimated total population of Golden Eagles in Austria.