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Reproductive characteristics of migratory golden eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska

The Condor
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.2307/1370452

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Abstract

We describe reproductive characteristics of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) breeding in Denali National Park, Alaska during an entire snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) cycle, 1988-1997. Data on nesting eagles were collected at 58 to 72 nesting areas annually using two aerial surveys. Surveys were conducted during the incubation period to determine occupancy and nesting activities and late in the nestling period to count nestlings and determine nesting success. Annual occupancy rates of nesting areas did not vary significantly, whereas laying rates, success rates, and mean brood size varied significantly over the study period. Fledgling production for the study population varied sevenfold during the ten-year period. Laying rates, mean brood size, and overall population productivity were significantly correlated with abundance of cyclic snowshoe hare and Willow Ptarmigan (Lugopus lagopus) populations. Reproductive rates of Golden Eagles in Denali were similar to those of Golden Eagles from other high latitude study areas in North America, but lower than for Golden Eagles from temperate zone study areas in North America.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Reproductive characteristics of migratory golden eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska
Series title The Condor
DOI 10.2307/1370452
Volume 101
Issue 1
Year Published 1999
Language English
Publisher Cooper Ornithological Society
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center Biology WTEB, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 9 p.
First page 115
Last page 123
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Denali National Park
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