| Abstract: | We observed a breeding Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leitcocephalus) pair nesting in a short-grass prairie and agricultural community on the southern Great Plains of the Texas Panhandle in 2004 and 2005. The nesting eagles produced 1 fledgling in 2004 and 2 fledglings in 2005. Our assessment of landcover types within a 5-km radius of the nest indicated that grasslands accounted for most of the area (90%), followed by agricultural lands (8%). Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies occupied 2.5% of the area, and single human residences with associated structures (i.e., barns) occupied <1%. The nearest source of permanent surface water >2.5 ha in surface area was 51 km from the nest. An analysis of regurgitated castings collected near the nest revealed a mammalian-dominated, breeding-season diet with black-tailed prairie dogs occurring in 80.9% of the castings. Other identified prey included cottontails (Sylvilagus spp., 15.9%), black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus, 3.2%), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana, 3.2%), and plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius, 1.6%). Bird remains were also present in 34.9% of the castings. This is the first reported successful nesting of Bald Eagles in the panhandle region of Texas since 1916; the nest is particularly unique because of its distance from any substantial body of water. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70031170 |
| Citation Author: | Boal, G. W.; Giovanni, M. D.; Beall, B. N. |
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| Citation End Page: | 250 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Western North American Naturalist |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 5 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Successful nesting by a Bald Eagle pair in prairie grasslands of the Texas Panhandle; 2006; Article; Journal; Western North American Naturalist; Boal, G. W.; Giovanni, M. D.; Beall, B. N. |
| Citation Start Page: | 246 |
| Citation Volume: | 66 |
| Citation Year: | 2006 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Successful nesting by a Bald Eagle pair in prairie grasslands of the Texas Panhandle; 2006; Article; Journal; Western North American Naturalist; Boal, G. W.; Giovanni, M. D.; Beall, B. N. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00 -0600 |
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