TERRITORIAL PAIRS, TEMPORARY SETTLEMENT AREAS AND POTENTIALLY SUITABLE BREEDING SITES FOR GOLDEN EAGLE AQUILA CHRYSAETOS IN THE ERNICI-SIMBRUINI COMPLEX (CENTRAL APENNINE, ITALY): PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Ernici-Simbruini complex in Central Apennine (Italy) is a regional protected area extended about 700 km², with a significant level of biodiversity. Despite the presence of wide grasslands and distributed crags and cliffs, only two territorial Golden eagle pairs are known, while two additional known territories as occupied in the past remain vacant. After a preliminary collection of Golden eagle sightings and partitioning of the Ernici-Simbruini complex based on the habitat characteristics, focalised field activities led to the individuation of a third territorial pair, and its territory has been consequently delimited. Further nine Temporary Settlement Areas (TSA) together with three Potentially Suitable Breeding Sites (PSBS) have been identified, as habitats used by adults, subadults and juveniles.