Chicks of rare bird spotted in Altyn-Emel National Park

Tengrinews.kz - Staff from the Department of Scientific Information and Monitoring at Altyn-Emel State National Nature Park discovered a nest with steppe eagle chicks in the Bashshi forest reserve. The bird is listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book, meaning it is a rare and protected species.
The staff shared the rare and remarkable footage on their Instagram page.













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According to the Altyn-Emel National Park team, steppe eagles build their nests in open semi-desert areas using branches and animal fur. Sometimes, they place their nests on shrubs or rocks that offer a good vantage point of the surrounding landscape.

“As a rule, the female lays one to three eggs. The incubation period lasts 40 to 45 days. During this time, the male feeds the family. The chicks hatch one after another, not all at once. The strongest chick typically hatches first, while the weaker one may not survive. The chicks become fully feathered and ready to leave the nest after about 45 to 55 days. However, they remain dependent on their parents for several weeks after fledging,” the park staff explained.

The steppe eagle is a large bird of prey from the hawk family, widely distributed across the steppe and semi-desert regions of Eurasia, including Kazakhstan. It plays a crucial role in the steppe ecosystem as a top predator, helping to control populations of small mammals and birds. Steppe eagles are monogamous and often form long-term pair bonds.
Previously, a lynx was caught on camera in Katon-Karagai National Park in the East Kazakhstan region.