Hi here are the results from 2007 Golden eagle count. On Count day there were 41 sightings. Count week brought the total to 51 (2006 total 29) with 10 additional sightings reliably felt to be different birds. State totals , Iowa 1, MN 16, and WI 34. Buffalo County WI had the most with 30 on count day and another 4 in count week. Other county totals were Alamakee, Iowa, 1, Fillmore, MN 3, Houston, MN 6, Winona MN 7, Wabasha and Trempealeau counties were both 0. 47 people participated in the count which is organized by Scott Mehus. Carol Knabe got some wonderful photos of a 3-4 year old Golden interacting with an Immature Bald. Additional sightings Bald Eagles, 223, Rough -legged Hawk 36, Red-tailed Hawk 223, Northern Harrier 2, Sharp-shinnedHawk 4, Cooper's Hawk 3, American Kestrel 31, eagles unidentified 6 (too far to call or too brief in view), raptors unidentified 7. also noted Northern Shrikes 7, coyotes 3 (I know not a bird) large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Horned Larks (noted my many observers to be more than last year). SE MN also had 20 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 75 American Robins and 18 Eastern Bluebirds. I do not have total hours or mileage covered yet. If you want that additional data, please back channel.
So put it on your calendars for next Jan. and come join us. Thanks to all who have posted on golden eagles on the forums. Your input is appreciated. We are getting the sense that these goldens are returning to the same spots each year and have winter territories. some questions that I have are: are the numbers increasing, if so why? are there any breeding pairs? any breeding pairs on record? Is there an active Hawk Watch counting south of Hawk Ridge, in the western part of WI or eastern MN and what are their numbers? (Hawk Ridge counted 120 this year) Whats the latest date that people are seeing the goldens? If any one wants to go looking, let myself or Scott know and we can give you some likely routes. Joan Schnabel in beautiful Buffalo County
