Age-dependent response to anthropogenic habitat during migration of an endangered raptor

Efrat R. Lehnardt Y. Bragin A. Bragin E. Avgar T. Katzner T. Sapir N.
8 September 2025 Cell Press

Current Biology
2025 #35 Issue 17 4301 - 4308.e3 pp.

Decisions made by migrating animals can impact individual fitness and population dynamics. ¹^,² For avian migrants, these decisions can be affected by environmental ³^,⁴^,⁵^,⁶^,⁷ and anthropogenic ⁸^,⁹^,¹⁰^,¹¹^,¹² factors and by internal ¹³^,¹⁴^,¹⁵^,¹⁶^,¹⁷^,¹⁸ states. However, recent reviews have pointed to multiple gaps in our understanding of these decisions. ¹⁹^,²⁰^,²¹^,²² We studied the decisions made by migrating endangered Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis by tracking individuals for up to 7 years with GPS transmitters. We used weather reanalysis models and high-resolution remote sensing to obtain environmental and anthropogenic information. ²³^,²⁴ Using complementary statistical methods, we differentiated between two behavioral states, migratory flights and stopovers, and studied how different factors shape the birds’ movements and the transition between these states. ²⁵^,²⁶ Most prominently, we detected effects of experience on the birds’ response to anthropogenic habitats, with juvenile eagles drawn to them, adults avoiding them, and sub-adults showing no preference. Experience also affected the choice of tailwind and flight direction during migration, with juvenile individuals choosing stronger winds and more direct routes than more experienced eagles. During stopover, experienced eagles flew greater distances than less experienced eagles, and during both stopover and migratory periods, stronger tailwinds increased the distance birds moved. Finally, winds blowing toward the migratory direction increased the probability that a bird would initiate migration after a stopover, while opposite winds had the opposite effect. Our results advance our understanding of the ontogeny of bird migration and the effects of environmental and anthropogenic factors on migratory decision-making, with implications for the conservation of migratory species.

anthropogenic effects , behavioral ecology , behavioral ontogeny , biologging , conservation behavior , hidden Markov models , migration , movement ecology , ornithology , step selection

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Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3103301, Israel
Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, 78315, Germany
Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, 8499000, Israel
NGO Naurzum, Karamendi, 459730, Kazakhstan
The Peregrine Fund, Boise, 83709, ID, United States
Kostanay State Pedagogical Institute, Kostanay, 110000, Kazakhstan
Naurzum State Nature Reserve, Karamendi, 111400, Kazakhstan
Department of Biology and Wildlife Science Centre, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada
U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, 83702, ID, United States

Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology
Department of Migration
Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology
NGO Naurzum
The Peregrine Fund
Kostanay State Pedagogical Institute
Naurzum State Nature Reserve
Department of Biology and Wildlife Science Centre
U.S. Geological Survey

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