New Eagle Research Gallery

January 23rd, 2013

By: Kate StoneM.S. Avian Scientist

Species:

Research Projects:

Raptor View Research Institute’s eagle trapping efforts have captured interesting photographs of golden and bald eagles from new “carcass cameras”. Cameras allow the trapping crew to monitor eagle traps and to identify birds with wing tags. This past week, the trapping crew caught an exciting glimpse of a female golden eagle recently trapped and outfitted with a satellite transmitter. Trapping, handling, and the burden of a transmitter, did not keep her from returning to eat at the bait within days of her capture.

Golden eagle eats at a carcass.

We’ve noticed many other creatures making use of the deer and elk carcasses, including this ghostly great horned owl. A great horned owl has snacked on the carcass over the course of several nights in the past week.

Great Horned Owl eats at a carcass.

This picture appears to show both a golden eagle (foreground) and a great horned owl (background) at the carcass at the same time. What an uncommon combination!

Great horned owl and golden eagle.

To see birds on the carcasses you can browse the Eagle Research gallery here.

About the Author

Kate Stone

Kate graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Conservation Biology in 2000. She pursued a M.S. in Forestry at the University of Montana where her thesis focused on the habitat associations of snowshoe hares on U.S. National Forest land in Western Montana. After completing her M.S. degree in 2003, Kate alternated between various field biology jobs in the summer and writing for the U.S. Forest Service in the winter. Her fieldwork included projects on small mammal response to weed invasions, the response of bird communities to bark beetle outbreaks and targeted surveys for species of concern like the black-backed woodpecker and the Northern goshawk. Writing topics ranged from the ecology and management of western larch to the impacts of fuels reduction on riparian areas.

Kate coordinates bird-related research at the MPG Ranch. She is involved in both original research and facilitating the use of the Ranch as a study site for outside researchers. Additionally, Kate is the field trip coordinator and website manager for the Bitterroot Audubon Society. She also enjoys gardening and biking in her spare time.