The White-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) - is the biggest breeding bird of prey in Lithuania. The wingspan of the eagle reaches 2,4 meters. It breeds in forests near sea, larger rivers, lakes or fishery farms. Basically, it feeds on fish and water birds, and in more rare cases - on mammals. Generally, the White-tailed sea eagles nest in trees, at the height of 11-32 meters. The nest of an average size is of 1,7 meter width and 1 height. 1-3 juvenile eagles usually grow in the nest.

        Any breeding White-tailed sea eagles were not found in Lithuania since the beginning of the 20th century. And it was only in 1987 that the finding of the first nests in the country was ever recorded. The major factor that leads to the decline of population is the intensive activities in the forests.

          These birds also become the trophies for poachers or die under the impact of electric discharge or chemical pollutants that penetrate together with the catch. The number of hatching eagle pairs in our country is assumed to be in the range from 80 to 90. 

           White-tailed sea eagle is incorporated into the International and Lithuanian Red Books, the Washington convention on the trade with vanishing species of wild flora and fauna, the list of vanishing animals drawn by the Global Protection Organization, put under protection by the Bern convention in Europe and also included into Annex 1 to the EU Bird Directive, i.e. the list of species, the security whereof must be guaranteed by national authorities of each country.