site.btaBulgaria Sees Record Surge in Imperial Eagle Population Thanks to Conservation Efforts

The number of globally endangered Eastern Imperial Eagles nesting in Bulgaria has risen to 47 breeding pairs in 2025, a dramatic increase from just eight pairs 25 years ago, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) announced on Friday. Eight new territories have been confirmed as occupied by the species this year—an achievement hailed by BSPB as a national and international conservation success.

Six of the newly established pairs have nested in artificial platforms, four of which were installed by BSPB and two by the NGO Green Balkans. This underscores the effectiveness of artificial nests in attracting eagles to safe and suitable habitats.

A record 36 pairs are currently incubating eggs—the highest number ever recorded in Bulgaria. The number of fledglings for the season is still being determined.

Two of the new pairs have been located in the Sakar region, offering hope for the eagle's recovery in an area where it has declined due to habitat loss and the conversion of wildlands into farmland.

The population growth is largely attributed to conservation actions, especially the insulation of over 3,000 dangerous power poles - a key threat to juvenile eagles - through a longstanding BSPB partnership with the Electrorazpredelenie  South power distribution company.

Dr. Dimitar Demerdzhiev, a leading BSPB raptor expert, credited the population increase to years of targeted conservation: “A third of the eagle population now uses artificial nests, and protecting nest sites has helped reduce disturbances and poaching during breeding. Meanwhile, broader population growth across the species' range has also supported the increase in Bulgaria.”

Despite the progress, the species remains at risk. Threats such as unsustainable farming practices, poisoned bait, and uninsulated power lines persist, highlighting the need for continued joint conservation efforts.

The initiative is part of the “Green Belt of Southeastern Bulgaria” project, supported by the Endangered Landscapes Programme (ELSP), managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and funded by Arcadia—a charitable fund of Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing.