At the turn of January and February, the breeding season of White-tailed Eagle, the largest nesting bird of prey in Poland has started. However, it is not the only species that has entered the breeding season. In Polish forests, we can observe and hear such birds as Hazel Grouse or Common Crane.
After the onset of almost spring weather, in the province of in the Lubuskie Voivodship, the pairing of White-tailed Eagle has started in full swing. As explained by Bielewicz, mating is an introduction to the most important period of the year for all birds, i.e. breeding season.
White-tailed eagles are the largest birds of prey found in Poland, and at the same time one of the fastest breeding birds in the country. The long period of incubation of eggs and raising chicks (lasts until the end of August) means that the white-tailed eagles have to hurry with the start of the breeding season. The process of rearing young is a big challenge for adult birds, which must provide their chicks with the right amount of food.
Common Crane is a symbol of hope, happiness and the coming spring. The first individuals that came from the wintering grounds begin to pair up. They dance around their mate and jump with outstretched wings. Dancing may include bobs, bows, pirouettes, and stops, as in various crane species. Aggressive displays may include ruffled wing feathers, throwing vegetation in the air and pointing the bare red patch on their heads at each other.
Several specimens have been seen in Forestry Inspectorate recently. They have not flown to their wintering grounds at all. If you hear loud “cries” in the morning hours, it is certainly the common cranes’ clangor.
In the forest, we can also listen to the beautiful squeaky singing of Hazel Grouse. It is sometimes called the hazel hen, and it is one of the smaller members of the grouse family of birds.
