Tracking Golden Eagles

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.

Recent January surveys coordinated by the National Eagle Center and carried out by volunteers have uncovered a regular wintering population of at least 80 golden eagles using the coulees and bluffs along the Mississippi River from Red Wing, MN to LaCrosse, WI.  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. 

Golden Eagle 46 (pictured above) has a satellite transmitter that shows the bird's movements.Golden Eagle 46 was trapped on a "goat prairie" on January 17, 2011 just west of Wabasha, Minnesota. The bird was released on a bluff near the area it was trapped later that day.


Mark Martell of Audubon Minnesota supplied the map in this post (see below) that shows the data points of recent movement.  He is in Manitoba very bear the southern end of Hudson Bay.  He has been making his way south since late September. 

Give to the Max FAQ's

Give to the Max Day is fast approaching-Thursday, November 15. GTTM is becoming one our largest fund raisers for the year. Last year, we raised more than $72,000!


What is it?
Give to the Max Day is an event, hosted on the GiveMN.org website, Thursday, November 15. During this 24-hour period, gifts to The Raptor Center will be matched up to $52,000. This match is provided by Rachel and Denny Hollstadt and the Sarah J. Andersen Fund of the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation.

Two barred owl chicks that TRC was able to foster with other barred owl familes.

Why Make a Gift on Give to the Max Day?
Because the day is electronically-based, it is in perfect alignment with TRC’s goal of being good stewards of our environment by eliminating the need to print or mail anything!

There are some extra incentives you should know about. Each hour throughout the day one donor is randomly chosen to have his/her gift upgraded by the folks at Give to the Max by $1,000 (known as a golden ticket)!  At the end of the 24 hour period, one donation is chosen to be “super sized” and that gift has $10,000 added to it. You may remember last year, one of our volunteers, Jim Colten, had his gift super-sized and TRC received an extra $10,000. Each and every gift matters!

How Can I Help?


Give to the Max is about getting our messaging out to as many folks as we can. If you are willing to share this message it will help tremendously. We encourage you to share our GTTM messaging to friends, family and neighbors. We’re calling it the 15-15-15 strategy. On November 15, send GTTM messaging to 15 friends asking them for $15.



TRC educates 150,000 people each year.  Will you help us continue this work?



Wizarding World of Wildlife Classes Graduate!

The Raptor Center's staff of Wizards graduated another class this past weekend.  Magic could be found everywhere in how plants and animals have "transformational" powers in relation to their environment.  Chemistry can be incredibly interesting as potions. 

Professor Arachnos, pictured here with one of her "magical" creatures, taught how many animals are very influential to their environments.  Food chains and other relationships within ecosystems are some of the most fascinating stories to learn.

Duke Lecture Available Online

If you were not able to attend our 2012 Duke Lecture in person, you can now watch it online.  Here is the link.  Dr. Scott Lanyon talked about the Tree of Life Project; what it is, and how it is impacting what we know about species and their relatedness. 

Dr. Ponder's Pinzón Journal Entry #2

All of this has to go with me!

The challenges of packing!

Picture the situation – limited luggage allowances, small boats, equipping a “field hospital,” a few personal items for 5 weeks. And, oh yeah, at least some camera equipment! I am beginning to think that one pair of shorts will have to do me for 5 weeks!


All of the items in this photo need to go, too - and all into the blue tub circled at the top!

 First and foremost, I am trying to pull together everything I need for the hawks. After all, my primary job in Galapagos is to keep the hawks healthy and alive. While many items are obvious, I want to be prepared for whatever I might face. Luckily, we made excellent notes during our last project there. The pictures here show the collection of supplies we have pulled together over the past few weeks. And the container I asked my tech to fit everything in. He wasn’t exactly pleased. Size and weight, however, matter as I have to be able to haul everything I need.


Nancy Pryce cuts tail sheaths for the hawks.




Nancy uses red-tailed hawk feathers to check her measurements.

One of our volunteers, Nancy Pryce, assisted with creating very valuable “tail sheaths” – these little “envelopes” will be fitted over the hawks’ tails to protect the feathers when they are in captivity.

At home, things look about the same (sorry, no pictures). My dining room has discrete piles of what “must” come, what “should” come and a “what I would like to have if I can fit it in.” I am trying to decide which category my tea bags fit in. While the small comforts of home can make your day in the field, I can’t really say they are a “must.” Camera gear, however, is a must. Exactly what I take will be very limited, but a good camera system in Galapagos is a priority. And a side benefit will be sharing pictures with you through this blog. Stay tuned!

TRC and Gopher Hockey Military Appreciation Night



Max was allowed to see the area before the game that night.

 Last Friday evening, military personal and their families were acknowledged at the Minnesota Gopher hockey game, for Military Appreciation Night.


The Raptor Center (TRC) was honored  to be present during the playing of the national anthem before the game.   TRC Interpretive Naturalists Adam Barnett (who took these photos) and Mike Billington brought Maxime the bald eagle to represent The Raptor Center.   

The Raptor Center's Education on Non-Lead Alternatives

The Raptor Center has a long tradition of leadership in conservation research and education.   Three recent articles in regional newspapers are indicative of our continuing work to offer information about the connections of spent lead ammunition in deer carcasses and gutpiles and the connections of lead poisoning in bald eagles.  Our message is to educate that non-lead alternatives are available, and personal choice in ammunition selection will make a difference for the health and survival of countless bald eagles this fall. We would like to offer these weblinks to recent articles in St Paul Pioneer Press, Duluth News Tribune and Grand Forks Herald about this topic.