INTRODUCTION.

There are two couples at present in the Comunidad de Madrid, and we must add another two in the adjacent provinces.  The total productivity of the four couples is two chicks and one chick already flown.

In order to identify these couples, eluding indicating their reproduction location, they will be named as follows: Couple East Madrid, Couple in the Centre of the Comunidad de Madrid, Couple Guadalajara and Couple Toledo.  One of the actions to develop within the Life Bonelli is to equip the specimens with GPS transmitters.  Three specimens have been equipped with them during 2014: the male of the couple East Madrid, the male of the couple in Toledo and the offspring of the couple in Guadalajara.  We have had some administrative problems trying to mark the couple in the centre of the Comunidad de Madrid

Couple East of the Comunidad de Madrid:

This couple has been established in the same area for more than 25 years but the question is that we know that both of the reproductive specimens introduced in 2014 are young.  The previous male died to electrocution and was found thanks to the transmitter.  Deploying photo-traps we discovered that the female is also young but we ignore what caused the disappearance of other female.

Capturing “Señor”, the male of the couple.

The male of this couple was captured January 27 2014 in the morning.  After being checked-up by the vets, he was equipped with a GPS transmitter and liberated.  Unfortunately, he lost the transmitter 6 months later. Up to December 2014 we know that the couple is in perfect shape.

Weeks after being captured, the new couple began the reproduction in a new nest, very close to the old one.  Although the chick/chicks were born, they died a few days later for an unknown reason. It is possible that the inexperience of the couple affected the outcome.

Summary of the reproduction monitoring.

Couple in the Centre of the Comunidad de Madrid.

As previously commented, due to administrative problems, a detailed monitoring of this couple wasn’t possible.  We know that the couple is in good shape and that at least, the female is “new”, so that means that a substitution has taken place and in 2014, same as previous years, they have not reproduced.

We see in the images that the female has a red ring, and therefore we know she comes from Catalonia.

Couple in Toledo.

This couple has been established in the border of the Toledo and Madrid provinces for five years approximately. After successfully reproducing during the last years, they failed in 2014 since the chick fell off the cliff before it could even fly.  The specimen was taken to the CERI (Centro de Estudios de Rapaces Ibéricas) where the preliminary analysis showed that it was severely infected with Trichomonas sp. Since the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha rescued some chicks from the nest in Albacete, it was decided that one of them should be placed in this nest.  The idea was that this couple adopted this specimen.  Unfortunately, he was found on the floor the day after, so it was decided to put him in the Life Bonelli reinforcement project in Navarra.

“Cervantes” marking, the male of the Toledo couple.

After failing reproduction, it was decided that one of the adults should be captured, and therefore Cervantes, the male, was captured on December 9, 2014.  This male has and old fracture in the right leg, which has not stopped him from reproduction during the last years.  Thanks to the new transmitter, we’ll know his main feeding areas.

Couple in Guadalajara.

This is the sole reproductive couple in the Comunidad de Madrid surroundings.  In 2014 they raised a chick that flew successfully. He was marked with a GPS when he was 50 days approximately.

Monitoring Summary:

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