The Greater spotted eagle is a top predator. As such, the health of its population is an indicator of the environment in which it lives, and the other species within their habitat. The population is declining, suggesting the quality and quantity of its main habitat (wetlands and wet forests) are under threat by human development.

On the wintering grounds Greater spotted eagles use wetlands. Wetlands are under threat from urban development, and are also naturally rare habitats in Arabia, which is mostly dry. Greater spotted eagles breed in wet woodlands in far eastern Europe and Central Asia. Wet woodlands are being felled and converted into agricultural landscapes, thus imperiling Greater spotted eagles.

A large percentage of Greater spotted eagles, like other raptor species, die when they are young (within the first year). To some extent this is natural because life is rather difficult for young eagles. Chicks leave their nests, learn to hunt, then leave on a long and perilous migration (thousands of kilometers), find a suitable wetland for the winter, and fend for themselves. If an eagle survives that first year and live into “old” age, it may live to be 20-25 yrs old..

The main threat to Greater spotted eagles is thought to be loss of habitat. On the breeding grounds, wet woodlands are being converted to agriculture. On the wintering grounds, rare wetlands are being drained and developed. The loss of these habitats results in declines in the prey upon which the eagles depend for survival. Other threats including electrocution, persecution, and accidental poisoning. In fact, one of the Greater spotted eagles tracked by us from Kuwait, apparently died by electrocution in Iran as it migrated north.

The tracking devices are solar-powered, so, theoretically, could last many years. Apart from a GPS location the devices provide information on speed, acceleration, temperature, etc. These data can imply behaviours (e.g. flight or feeding or mortality). When fully charged the devices can collect data at a rate of one location every second, providing detailed information of flight patterns that might, for example, help prevent collisions with wind turbines or aircraft.