Golden eagles can be killed by colliding with a number of human-made objects, including wind turbines. USGS research wildlife biologist Todd Katzner describes his studies of golden eagle flight. This research is being done to model flight behavior which might help managers understand how placement of wind turbines might pose significant risks to golden eagles.
Bird Movement and Migration
Active
By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
November 6, 2017
Migration is an amazing annual event. Every year billions of animals – birds, mammals, insects, and fish – make long-distance journeys from breeding grounds to wintering grounds. Most northern hemisphere birds migrate southward, but there are many other ways that birds move seasonally. If we want to protect birds that take these long distance journeys, we need to understand why they move, why they stay, how they move, and why they go where they go.
Our team studies the behaviors, drivers, and migration endpoints of individual birds throughout North America and world-wide. Most of this work is done using tracking devices, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry or light-level geolocators. Bird movement data can then be linked to other datasets, such as habitat or topographic maps that tell us details about sites birds spend time in or fly by. Our approach reveals the details of the movements of these remarkable birds and how they use different landscapes across continents.
Using GPS Telemetry to Track Golden Eagles
We are tracking migratory movements of golden eagles with GPS-telemetry systems. GPS data can tell us the altitude at which eagles are flying and relate their position to the landform directly below them. For example, we’ve learned that migrating eagles fly at lower altitudes over steeper terrain and at higher altitudes over flat terrain. This fundamental insight into eagle flight strategy helps us better understand the ways that eagles use updrafts to subsidize their flight and identifies reasons that eagles may be at risk from wind turbines constructed along their migration pathway (see “Interaction between Energy Development and Raptors”).
We also evaluate conditions under which eagles choose to migrate by linking GPS telemetry data to large-scale modeled weather data. Eagles respond to weather conditions while flying, while on the ground, or both. Understanding how weather patterns and eagle migration behavior are linked provides important insight into how changes in climate and weather could affect eagle ecology.
Raptor Migration in Asia
Our team also studies migration of eagles and falcons in central Asia. Central Asia is politically important and has some of the largest remaining intact grassland ecosystems anywhere in the world. We use GPS-telemetry systems to track movements of imperial eagles and white-tailed sea eagles from Kazakhstan to wintering grounds in the Middle-East, and light-level geolocators to track movements of red-footed falcons from Kazakhstan to southern Africa and back.
Learn about other projects led by Dr. Todd Katzner.
Interaction Between Alternative Energy Development and Raptors
Energy production has become essential for modern society. At the same time, this process can have negative effects on wildlife and ecosystems. It is in the best interest of society and the environment to understand these effects and to manage and mitigate for them. Our team focuses on measuring how energy development influences birds of prey and learning how to minimize impacts.
Conservation Ecology and Monitoring of Raptors
Raptors, or birds of prey, are often used to indicate the state of an ecosystem, and monitoring their populations can help us to understand ecosystem processes. Raptors are particularly good animals for monitoring because they are big and therefore charismatic and easy to observe. Whether we’re monitoring nesting biology and reproductive output, counting individuals on roads, or setting up trail...
Video about Dr. Katzner's research.
Golden Eagle Flight
Golden eagles can be killed by colliding with a number of human-made objects, including wind turbines. USGS research wildlife biologist Todd Katzner describes his studies of golden eagle flight. This research is being done to model flight behavior which might help managers understand how placement of wind turbines might pose significant risks to golden eagles.
Learn about other projects led by Dr. Todd Katzner.
Interaction Between Alternative Energy Development and Raptors
Energy production has become essential for modern society. At the same time, this process can have negative effects on wildlife and ecosystems. It is in the best interest of society and the environment to understand these effects and to manage and mitigate for them. Our team focuses on measuring how energy development influences birds of prey and learning how to minimize impacts.
Conservation Ecology and Monitoring of Raptors
Raptors, or birds of prey, are often used to indicate the state of an ecosystem, and monitoring their populations can help us to understand ecosystem processes. Raptors are particularly good animals for monitoring because they are big and therefore charismatic and easy to observe. Whether we’re monitoring nesting biology and reproductive output, counting individuals on roads, or setting up trail...
Video about Dr. Katzner's research.
Golden Eagle Flight
Golden eagles can be killed by colliding with a number of human-made objects, including wind turbines. USGS research wildlife biologist Todd Katzner describes his studies of golden eagle flight. This research is being done to model flight behavior which might help managers understand how placement of wind turbines might pose significant risks to golden eagles.
Golden eagles can be killed by colliding with a number of human-made objects, including wind turbines. USGS research wildlife biologist Todd Katzner describes his studies of golden eagle flight. This research is being done to model flight behavior which might help managers understand how placement of wind turbines might pose significant risks to golden eagles.