This work provides basic information for managing golden eagles in the context of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d). The recent development of energy resources, such as wind, oil, gas, and solar, can potentially affect landscapes in ways that require changes in golden eagle management practices. Our work emphasizes priority information needs identified by the USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It includes assembling historical records and analyzing them to predict golden eagle distributions at regional and local scales and to assess population status. We are investigating genetic structure among three geographic groups of eagles. Another topic of research is testing survey and monitoring methods for golden eagles and estimating their occupancy of areas of special interest for eagle management. Our results will inform policy decisions, provide resource managers with data about golden eagle ecology, and provide guidance to biologists about techniques for monitoring eagles in the context of adaptive management.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Spatial patterns in occupancy and reproduction of Golden Eagles during drought: Prospects for conservation in changing environments
Assessment of frequency and duration of point counts when surveying for golden eagle presence
Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis) from three areas in western North America; initial results and conservation implications
Estimation of occupancy, breeding success, and predicted abundance of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, 2014
Raptor nesting near oil and gas development: an overview of key findings and implications for management based on four reports by HawkWatch International
Golden eagle records from the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey: information for wind energy management and planning
Complete migration cycle of golden eagles breeding in northern Quebec
- Overview
This work provides basic information for managing golden eagles in the context of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d). The recent development of energy resources, such as wind, oil, gas, and solar, can potentially affect landscapes in ways that require changes in golden eagle management practices. Our work emphasizes priority information needs identified by the USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It includes assembling historical records and analyzing them to predict golden eagle distributions at regional and local scales and to assess population status. We are investigating genetic structure among three geographic groups of eagles. Another topic of research is testing survey and monitoring methods for golden eagles and estimating their occupancy of areas of special interest for eagle management. Our results will inform policy decisions, provide resource managers with data about golden eagle ecology, and provide guidance to biologists about techniques for monitoring eagles in the context of adaptive management.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
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 saAuthorsDavid Wiens, Patrick Kolar, W. Grainger Hunt, Teresa Hunt, Mark R. Fuller, Douglas A. BellAssessment of frequency and duration of point counts when surveying for golden eagle presence
We assessed the utility of the recommended golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) survey methodology in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2013 Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance. We conducted 800-m radius, 1-hr point-count surveys broken into 20-min segments, during 2 sampling periods in 3 areas within the Intermountain West of the United States over 2 consecutive breeding seasons during 2012 and 2013. OAuthorsBen R. Skipper, Clint W. Boal, Jo-Szu Tsai, Mark R. FullerNuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis) from three areas in western North America; initial results and conservation implications
Understanding the genetics of a population is a critical component of developing conservation strategies. We used archived tissue samples from golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis) in three geographic regions of western North America to conduct a preliminary study of the genetics of the North American subspecies, and to provide data for United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decisiAuthorsErica H. Craig, Jennifer R. Adams, Lisette P. Waits, Mark R. Fuller, Diana M. WhittingtonEstimation 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 impAuthorsJ. David Wiens, Patrick S. Kolar, Mark R. Fuller, W. Grainger Hunt, Teresa HuntRaptor nesting near oil and gas development: an overview of key findings and implications for management based on four reports by HawkWatch International
The project was undertaken because of a paucity of information about the possible effects of OG operations and resource management on nesting raptors. BLM raptor management has included stipulations that restricted human activity near raptor nests during the raptor nesting season. The BLM and the Department of Energy (DOE), which provided financial support for the study, seek information thAuthorsMark R. FullerGolden eagle records from the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey: information for wind energy management and planning
The purpose of this Data Series report is to provide the occasions, locations, and counts when golden eagles were recorded during the annual Midwinter Bald Eagle Surveys. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are protected by Federal statutes including the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) (16 USC 668-668c) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) (16 USC 703-12). The U.S. Fish and WildlifeAuthorsWade Eakle, Patti Haggerty, Mark Fuller, Susan L. PhillipsComplete migration cycle of golden eagles breeding in northern Quebec
Radio tracking via satellite was initiated to study the year-round movements of Golden Eagles(Aquila chrysaetosc anadensis) breeding on the east coast of Hudson Bay, Quebec. In June and August 1992, six Golden Eagles(five adults and one juvenile) were marked, three of which completed their year-round movements. The eagles left their breeding area in mid- to late October and migrated to known wAuthorsSerge Brodeur, R. DeCarie, D.M. Bird, Mark R. Fuller