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Golden Eagles and Renewable Energy Development in the Western U.S. Active

By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center November 9, 2017

Development of wind-power and solar facilities is expected to increase dramatically in areas occupied by golden eagles in the western U.S. Renewable energy development in areas used by golden eagles poses a unique challenge to natural resource managers because of this species’ vulnerability to collisions with wind turbines and sensitivity to changes in human land-use.

Our research provides the scientific foundation needed to promote effective golden eagle conservation and compatible renewable energy development. Current research projects include:

  • Estimation of site occupancy, nesting success, and detectability of golden eagles in the Diablo Mountains of central California
  • Golden eagle effectiveness monitoring plan for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
  • Age-structured ranging behavior and habitat use by golden eagles in the vicinity of the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area: implications for wind-energy development
  • Movements and site fidelity of juvenile golden eagles in the Diablo Mountains, California

Collaborators

US Fish & Wildlife Service, The Peregrine Fund, California Energy Commission, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, East Bay Regional Parks District

If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.

golden eagle in flight
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A person standing by a spotting scope on a tripod, looking through binoculars. Grassy hills and rainbow in background
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Below are publications associated with this project.

Golden Eagle Monitoring Plan for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan

This report describes options for monitoring the status and population trends of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) within the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) area of Southern California in maintaining stable or increasing population in the planning area. The report profiles the ecology of golden eagles in the region and provides a range of potential sampling options to address
By
Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Spatial patterns in occupancy and reproduction of Golden Eagles during drought: Prospects for conservation in changing environments

We used a broad-scale sampling design to investigate spatial patterns in occupancy and breeding success of territorial pairs of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, USA, during a period of exceptional drought (2014–2016). We surveyed 138 randomly selected sample sites over 4 occasions each year and identified 199 pairs of eagles, 100 of which were detected in focal sa
By
Ecosystems, Species Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Quantifying the demographic cost of human-related mortality to a raptor population

Raptors are exposed to a wide variety of human-related mortality agents, and yet population-level effects are rarely quantified. Doing so requires modeling vital rates in the context of species life-history, behavior, and population dynamics theory. In this paper, we explore the details of such an analysis by focusing on the demography of a resident, tree-nesting population of golden eagles (Aquil
By
Ecosystems, Species Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Distribution, nesting activities, and age-class of territorial pairs of golden eagles at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California, 2014–16

The substantial numbers of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) killed by collisions with oldgeneration wind turbines each year at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) in California has been well documented from previous studies. Few eagle nests have been documented in the APWRA, however, and adults and subadults 3+ years of age killed by turbines were generally not associated with nearby ter
By
Ecosystems, Species Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Spatial demographic models to inform conservation planning of golden eagles in renewable energy landscapes

Spatial demographic models can help guide monitoring and management activities targeting at-risk species, even in cases where baseline data are lacking. Here, we provide an example of how site-specific changes in land use and anthropogenic stressors can be incorporated into a spatial demographic model to investigate effects on population dynamics of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Our study foc
By
Ecosystems, Species Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Estimation of occupancy, breeding success, and predicted abundance of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, 2014

We used a multistate occupancy sampling design to estimate occupancy, breeding success, and abundance of territorial pairs of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, in 2014. This method uses the spatial pattern of detections and non-detections over repeated visits to survey sites to estimate probabilities of occupancy and successful reproduction while accounting for imp
By
Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife (unpublished), Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center