Aurangabad: The Eastern Imperial Eagle also known as ‘Shahi Garud’ has been spotted in Sarola area, around 20 kilometer from the city, taking bird experts by surprise.The migratory bird is said to have been sighted for the first time in Aurangabad region. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the eagle as a ‘vulnerable’ species.Environmentalist Kishor Pathak, who spotted the bird on the bank of a pond located near the entrance of Sarola, said Eastern Imperial Eagles are relatively bolder in nature compared to other varieties of eagle.Pathak said, “The bird is spotted in some parts of Maharashtra during winter as they tend to migrate during the season. However, it is the first time that the rare bird has entered Aurangabad area.”Nearly 85 centimetre in size, Eastern Imperial Eagle has white patches on the shoulder, a golden buff crown and nape. The bird feeds on rats, reptiles, birds and even small mammals. It is solitary in nature and tends to fly at great heights with high speed.Pathak added, “It spends most of the day perched on a good vantage point such as a tree or a rock or on the ground.”Bird experts are of the opinion that the Eastern Imperial Eagle has become vulnerable due to shrinking green cover and human encroachment in mountains and valleys.The bird nests only on big trees. Hence, deforestation has been shrinking their habitats.

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