Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Checking in on Migrating Golden Eagles

If you follow our blog, you know that we love posting the annual fall progress of some golden eagles with satellite transmitters.  We thank Audubon Minnesota, one of the partners in this project, for providing maps. 


Here is an early November update:
·        Jack (Eagle #53 whose track is orange on the map) came through MN (and close to Hawk Ridge where he was captured on 12 Nov 2012) during the last week of October this year. He is currently in northeastern Illinois.
 
Jack's travels in orange.

 
Jack, Eagle #53
 
·        Ripley (yellow track) is the newest bird (captured this past March at Camp Ripley). She is still slowly heading south & currently in northeastern Saskatchewan.  
 
Ripley's travels in yellow.














·        Jeannette (Eagle #45 green track) is the bird we have been tracking the longest  (she was trapped in Waupaca County, Wisconsin in the winter of 2012-13) in this cohort and she is currently making her way to the north shore of Lake Superior. She has gone around the lake taking both the easterly and westerly routes in years past, it will be interesting to see her decision this season. She typically winters near Waupaca WI and could be there within the week depending upon how she crosses and the weather.
 
Jeannette's travels in green
Jeanette, Eagle #45
Audubon Minnesota, the National Eagle Center, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Nongame Program, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Endangered Resources Program are involved in a project to increase our understanding of the biology and management needs of golden eagles wintering along the Mississippi River.  A winter population of golden eagles along the Upper Mississippi River raises new and important management questions and challenges. Learning the breeding origin (or origins) of these birds is of high importance. The breeding population in northern Ontario is thought to be small and thus vulnerable. If there are birds are moving from western breeding areas they could be severely impacted by wind generator projects proposed for the Great Plains and western Minnesota.

You can read more about the project here.





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