© Jim Williams | Click image to enlarge
Golden eagle

Audubon Minnesota, the National Eagle Center, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Nongame Program, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Endangered Resources Program are embarking on a 3-year project to increase our understanding of the biology and management needs of golden eagles wintering along the Mississippi River.

Golden eagles do not breed in Minnesota and Wisconsin and have not been considered regular users of the Mississippi River during the winter. In Minnesota, there have been occasional reports of golden eagles in spring, fall and winter from most counties.

Records of fall migration over Hawk Ridge in Duluth, MN date back to 1951. From 1951-1963 24 golden eagles were counted from Hawk Ridge with annual counts varying between 0-7 per year. However, counting during that period was usually limited to September and early October so many birds may have been missed. More recent fall counts from Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory find between 115-183 birds annually with smaller numbers in spring.

Recent January surveys coordinated by the National Eagle Center and carried out by volunteers have uncovered a regular wintering population of up to 60 golden eagles using the coulees and bluffs along the Mississippi River from Red Wing, MN to LaCrosse, WI. This wintering population does not mix with the much larger and better known population of wintering and breeding bald eagles found in the same area. The breeding origin of these wintering golden eagles is unknown, and we have no information about their migration routes and timing and their habitat use during the winter.

A winter population of golden eagles along the Upper Mississippi River raises new and important management questions and challenges. Learning the breeding origin (or origins) of these birds is of high importance. It is possible that these golden eagles breed in Canada and the size of the breeding population in northern Ontario is thought to be small and thus vulnerable. If the birds are moving from western breeding areas they could be severely impacted by wind generator projects proposed for the Great Plains and western Minnesota.

Golden eagle habitat use, preferred prey, and home range during the winter is information that will be needed to ensure appropriate management and conservation action along the Mississippi River. Most of the wintering area in which these eagles are being found is privately owned and under multiple government and agency jurisdictions, hence it will be critical to broadly inform and engage the public, government leaders, and agency personnel in any conservation strategies developed for this species.

The 3-year goals of this project are to:

  • Better understand the numbers, distribution, and habits of wintering golden eagles along the Mississippi River.
  • Identify the breeding origins and migratory routes of these birds and the timing of their use.
  • Begin the process of developing appropriate conservation and management strategies for these birds.
  • Inform and engage the public in carrying out these goals.

CHECK OUT the recent Star Tribune article
FOLLOW Golden Eagle 42's movements