2016/10/03

Local Wind Energy Development Has Broad Consequences for Golden Eagles

Local Wind Energy Development Has Broad Consequences for Golden Eagles:

"Together, the stable isotope and genetics data indicate that eagle populations are connected across much of North America and often travel long distances."
This puts me in mind of Grace, a recently deceased golden eagle who had been a resident of New Mexico Wildlife Center. Grace didn't have an easy life; she came to NMWC after being found by a road in northern NM, apparently hit by a car, tail feathers pulled by some heartless scofflaw. While in residence at NMWC she participated in several golden eagle surveys throughout the state, tethered in fields near elk carcass to attract other passing eagles. I don't know when/where the results will be published, but my understanding is that they helped confirm a decline in golden eagle numbers in New Mexico. The reasons for the decline are unknown. Coincidentally, while hiking with friends this last Saturday (1 Oct) near Ironton Park, Colorado, we saw several birds circling above a rock outcropping. Several were ravens. One was a small hawk, either a Cooper's or a sharp-shinned. And one, barely discernible in a photo I snapped, looked very much like a golden eagle.