Monitoring Occupancy of Nesting Areas and Reproductive Success of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Dates
Year
2008
Citation
McIntyre, Carol, 2008, Monitoring Occupancy of Nesting Areas and Reproductive Success of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska: Denali National Park and Preserve: Fairbanks, Alaska, 28 pages-28 pages.
Summary
I monitored the nesting area occupancy and reproductive success of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) using data collected during two standardized aerial surveys in Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali) between 1988 and 2007. In 2007, occupancy of Golden Eagle nesting areas (91%), nesting rate (73%), and success rate (78%) were slightly higher than the long-term averages of those metrics. Fledging production (n = 72) was the second highest recorded in the study. During Golden Eagle surveys, I also collected data on the nesting area occupancy and reproductive success of Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus). In 2007, occupancy of Gyrfalcon nesting areas (46.7%) and success rate (42.8%) were lower than most previous years. Daily counts of [...]
Summary
I monitored the nesting area occupancy and reproductive success of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) using data collected during two standardized aerial surveys in Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali) between 1988 and 2007. In 2007, occupancy of Golden Eagle nesting areas (91%), nesting rate (73%), and success rate (78%) were slightly higher than the long-term averages of those metrics. Fledging production (n = 72) was the second highest recorded in the study. During Golden Eagle surveys, I also collected data on the nesting area occupancy and reproductive success of Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus). In 2007, occupancy of Gyrfalcon nesting areas (46.7%) and success rate (42.8%) were lower than most previous years. Daily counts of snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) were among the highest recorded in the study and indicated that populations of these cyclic vertebrates were reaching or were at the peak of their 8- to 11 year cycles. As in 2006, when hares were abundant, I noted a high number of non-territorial subadult Golden Eagles in the study area from June through August. Adult and subadult Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), were also noted in the study area in June and July, apparently drawn to the area by the abundance of hare.