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Golden Eagles Winter in Area

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A few golden eagles are found each winter in Crawford, Vernon and Allamakee counties. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

 

Some golden eagles 

winter in area counties

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The golden eagle is one of the largest, fastest, nimblest raptors in North America. Lustrous gold feathers gleam on the back of its head and neck. A powerful beak and talons advertise its hunting prowess.

Golden eagles are more likely to be seen in western North America. However, more people have become aware of a small but steady population that has been wintering in the Driftless Region, including parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, before migrating back to northern Ontario and northern Quebec in Canada.

In fact, there has been 140-plus golden eagles living in the Driftless Region survey area the last three winters, said Golden Eagle Project Coordinator Scott Mehuse, the education director at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn. 

“Golden eagles arrive here in mid-to-late October and stay until February or March,” said Mehuse, who noted that the eagles do not nest in the Driftless Region.

The Wintering Golden Eagle Survey has been conducted through collaboration of the Minnesota DNR, the Minnesota Audubon Society, the National Eagle Center and numerous trained volunteers, for the past 14 years.

In 2016, two golden eagles were found near Stoddard and Coon Valley. There were also two golden eagles in the De Soto-Ferryville area, said Mehuse. Four goldens were spotted in the Prairie du Chien-Lynxville-Seneca area, along with 51 bald eagles.

Four golden eagles were seen in Allamakee County, Iowa, in an area stretching from New Albin to Lansing to Waukon to Dorchester. Four more were found in the Yellow River Forest area. Two goldens were spotted in the Marquette, Monona and Postville area.

Mehuse said six golden eagles have been fitted with satellite transmitters to track their movements. One traveled as far south as Missouri.

Golden eagles are typically not fish eaters like bald eagles and are not usually found near water. They are usually found more inland and hunt small mammals and wild turkeys for the most part. On rare occasion, they have been known to attack small deer.

“The Driftless Region offers a somewhat milder winter for them as well as a good food source and protected areas,” said Mehuse, who noted that golden eagles have probably wintered in this region for a long time, but were just overlooked until about 14 years ago.

People often confuse golden eagles with immature bald eagles because juvenile bald eagles don’t have a white head yet. Mehuse said golden eagles are “booted,” which means they have feathers nearly to their talons. Bald eagles, on the other hand, have bare legs. Golden eagles have a much smaller beak in their first year. At maturity, their beaks are tri-colored and dark at the tip. At maturity, golden eagles are about 10 percent larger than adult bald eagles. Immature bald eagles have white feathers near their bodies on the underside of their wings (in their wing pits). Immature golden eagles have white feathers on the tips of their wings, said Mehuse. 

Mehuse said the National Eagle Center offers training sessions for people who would like to volunteer to drive routes and look for golden eagles, bald eagles and other raptors. “I have some open routes in Iowa,” he said.

More information about the Golden Eagle Project can be found at nationaleaglecenter.org/golden-eagle project/.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, along with funding support through Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund also contribute to the Golden Eagle Project.

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