RVRI has been applying vinyl wing-tag markers (blue with white numbers) on Golden Eagles since 2004. To date, we have wing-tagged over 250 migrant eagles at our banding stations. This technique is proving considerably more effec- tive than banding alone as a means of identifying individuals and receiving re-encounter information.
In 2014, eight of our wing-tagged eagles were observed, bringing our total number of wing-tag encounters to 46. These sightings help us learn where these individuals winter and summer, how far they travel, how long they live, as well as the causes of Golden Eagle mortalities. We feel fortunate to get these glimpses into the lives of these individuals, and hope to better understand the migratory ecology for the species as a whole.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the picture emerging on our wing-tag encounter map. Many of our eagles are re-sighted along the Rocky Mountain Front (RMF) where the convergence of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains creates an obvious migration corridor from northern Canada to central Mexico. We already know from migration count data, the critical importance of the northern RMF, stretching from northern Canada to west-central Montana. Our en- counters along the southern RMF suggest this region is also very important for migrating and wintering Golden Eagles.
Eagle C-51, was banded and wing-tagged as a hatch-year (first year of life), male on Nora Ridge in 2007. He was encountered in Denali National Park on September 15, 2008, feeding on a road-killed Snowshoe Hare.
As time passes and data continues to trickle in, we look forward to learning more of the outcomes of these individual eagles in our efforts to learn more about Golden Eagles as a whole.
Important information includes:
Where and when eagle was encountered:
Condition of eagle: alive and well, dead, injured etc.
Your contact information so we may contact you and share with you some details about the eagle you reported. Thank You!