Ecology and Nesting Behaviour of African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) at Jebba Lake, Niger State

The African fish eagle is an iconic raptor species and reliable indicator of aquatic ecosystem health, yet its breeding ecology and nesting behaviour have been rarely studied within Nigerian lacustrine systems. Jebba Lake in Niger State represents a significant artificial reservoir with suitable riparian nesting habitat and prey fish biomass to support resident eagle populations. This study documents the nesting ecology, breeding success, and territory utilisation of African fish eagles along a 45-kilometre shoreline stretch of Jebba Lake. Nest searches were conducted along boat transects, with each identified nest monitored at bi-weekly intervals throughout the breeding season. Nest characteristics including height, tree species, aspect, and proximity to water were recorded. Breeding success was defined as the number of fledglings produced per active nest. Territory mapping used fixed-point observation and triangulation of vocalisation and flight data. Twenty-three active nests were identified, with an average inter-nest distance of 2.1 kilometres. Preferred nest tree species included Khaya senegalensis and Daniellia oliveri. Breeding success was 61%, with nest disturbance from fishing activity identified as the primary cause of failure. Territorial males maintained year-round residency, while juveniles dispersed downstream. The study recommends a 200-metre fishing exclusion zone around active nests during the November to March breeding period and proposes eagle monitoring as an ecological indicator in reservoir management programmes. Keywords: African fish eagle, nesting ecology, Jebba Lake, raptor conservation, breeding success