I will send out a detailed report of the day's findings once we get all the data put together, but wanted to give everyone a little taste of what was found on Saturday. On Saturday, January 21st, 2012 volunteer observers got out around the blufflands and observed 125 golden eagles. More than 140 volunteer observers covered survey areas in sixteen counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. This year's total represents more than a 50% increase in golden eagles observed over last year. Clear skies and cold weather on the day of the count made for ideal golden eagle viewing. The survey also reported sightings of a variety of other raptors, including bald eagles.
The Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey is part of an on-going project to learn more about the golden eagle population in the blufflands region. Golden eagles were not previously considered regular inhabitants of this area. For the last eight years, the Wintering Golden Eagle Survey has gathered important data to confirm a regular wintering population of golden eagles in the blufflands of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. The National Eagle Center offers opportunities throughout the winter months with field trips to learn more about golden eagles and view them in the wild. The Golden Eagle Project is also tracking golden eagles using GPS satellite transmitters to find out more about migration and possible breeding origin of these birds. Tracking maps are available at nationaleaglecenter.org. The Golden Eagle Project is a partnership of the National Eagle Center and Audubon Minnesota with support from the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife Service and funding through Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. To find out more about the Golden Eagle Project, contact Project Co-Coordinator Scott Mehus at the National Eagle Center. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-5357 - Fax 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
