Lesser Fish Eagle
The lesser fish eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is primarily grey-brown in colour with broad, blunt wings and coarse featherless legs. They are smaller than the similar grey-headed fish eagle and may often get confused with the similar species. The lesser fish eagle has a brown breast with white thighs and belly. They have a short, rounded tail with a long neck and a small head. Juvenile lesser fish eagles are similar in appearance to adults, although they have brown eyes whereas an adult has yellow. Adults have a wingspan reaching 1.2 m and can grow to up to 64 centimeters tall. There are two subspecies: one is native to the Malaysian Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi; and the other is native to Kashmir through southeast India, Nepal, and Burma towards Indochina.
Habitat
They inhabit various forms of rivers, lakes, and wetlands and are seen most often along hill streams and fast moving water. They have been known to reach heights up to 2,400 m, but usually create their habitats below 1,000 m. Some specific eagles have been recorded to reach heights exceeding 4,000 m in Nepal. The lesser fish eagle has been known to live in India and the Kashmir region, spanning eastward into Nepal, China, and other parts of Southeast Asia. In India, they are restricted to the Himalayan foothills and move north-eastern. They have been known to live in a variety of widespread locations such as Bangladesh and Nepal, to Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Diet
The lesser fish eagle feeds primarily on fish, which it snatches from the water as it observes them from above on a perch, which may be an overhanging tree or rock in the middle of a stream. They have several personal perches that they often switch between throughout their feeding time. As their diet is primarily fish, lesser fish eagles have large, curved talons specialised for catching fish and taking them from the water.
Breeding
Although incubation and fledging periods are unknown, the breeding season in the lesser fish eagle begins in March and ends in August for those in Northern India and Nepal, but in other areas, may begin in November and end in April. Roughly 2-4 eggs are laid in a clutch, and their nests consist of sticks and green leaves. After enough use, the nest may reach 1 m across and up to 1.5 m deep
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Near Threatened(NT). The global population is preliminarily estimated to number 10,000-50,000 mature individuals, pending further research. This is roughly equivalent to 15,000-75,000 individuals in total. A moderately rapid and on-going population decline is suspected on the basis of rates of habitat loss and degradation.
Threats
Loss of forest habitat along rivers, siltation, over-fishing and increasing human disturbance of waterways are causing widespread declines. It is also declining in Uttar Pradesh, India, partly because of pesticide use and this is presumably relevant throughout much of its range.
Conservation
Conservation Actions Underway
They are on the CITES Appendix II.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to reveal important areas and regularly monitor at various sites throughout its range. Protect forest in areas known to be important to the species. Research the link between pesticide use and the decline.