Scientists to Study Red Book White-tailed Sea Eagle Population Supported by Rosneft’s Samara Group of Enterprises

Rosneft’s Samara group of enterprises — Samaraneftegaz, Novokuibyshevsk Refinery, Kuibyshev Refinery, Syzran Refinery, Novokuibyshevsk Petrochemical Company, and Novokuibyshevsk Oil and Additives Plant — summed up the results of the first competition of the grant programme for a project to study the nesting sites of the white-tailed eagle in Samara Region. Samarskaya Luka National Park won the competition.

Scientists will study the state of the population of the largest and rarest bird in the Samara region and make recommendations on how to increase its numbers. The white-tailed eagle feeds mainly on fish and aquatic mammals; this red-listed bird can be found near the Zhigulevskaya HPP dam, where the surface of the Volga does not freeze over even in severe frost. However, the total number of the species in the region is reported to be less than 200 individuals. White-tailed eagles nest in areas that are difficult for humans to reach, making accurate counts difficult. It is therefore important to protect not only the birds themselves, but also the areas where they breed.

The first phase of the project will involve monitoring the white-tailed eagle population in Samarskaya Luka and identifying nesting sites with the help of volunteers. Ornithologists will then record the exact location of the nests and determine key demographic indicators — the number of eggs in the clutch and the number of chicks that have hatched.

Based on the data collected, the scientists will develop proposals for further conservation measures, including optimising tourist flows in Samarskaya Luka. Such measures will make the national park a favourable nesting site for the white-tailed eagle and help maintain the population at the level of the entire Middle Volga region.

This is not the first time that Rosneft enterprises operating in the Samara region have cooperated with the Samarskaya Luka National Park. The Company supported the opening of the LukAmorye ecological and educational complex in Zhigulevsk, a visitor centre in the village of Sosnovy Solonets and the construction of an aviary for injured birds that have lost the ability to survive in the wild. As part of the Ecotropa 63 project, a mobile application for virtual travel around Samarskaya Luka was developed and launched.

Preservation of the environment for future generations is an integral part of the corporate culture and business operations of Rosneft. The Company is implementing a number of comprehensive programmes for the preservation and restoration of natural resources. Rosneft organises research and cares for many species of rare birds and animals in Russia. These include polar bear, Atlantic walrus, white gull, geese and marals of Evenkia, and wild reindeer. In Samara region, the list of protected species includes the white-tailed eagle, the largest bird of prey in the region, which is listed in the Red Books of the region, Russia and the International Red Book.

Rosneft
Information and Advertising Department
November 13, 2023