Peter Nye's Research Goals 30 Years of Eagle Research in New York State Thirty Years of Eagle Research: Why? Eagle researcher Peter (Eagleye) Nye We have been studying eagles in New York State for over 30 years now. Why? Initially we wanted to: document how many eagles historically nest here identify the problems they had—and may still have assess current habitat conditions for their return As time went on and the population of eagles grew, our focus shifted: We wanted to explore and refine techniques for the re-establishment of eagles to our state. We want to monitor numbers, to identify essential habitats *, and to identify broad-scale movement patterns. Adult Eagles Much of our work to identify essential habitat and movement patterns has focused on wintering eagles. Are these birds year-round residents of NY state? Where are these birds coming from? When do they arrive and depart from New York? Do they come to the same areas year after year? What are their critical night-roosting, daytime feeding and daytime perching areas? Eagle habitats are of vital importance to our wintering eagle population. Conservationists call them essential or critical habitats. * Knowing what habitats these birds use, we can then determine if the areas are threatened and might be lost. If so, we can try to protect them. Journal Questions: In what ways might eagles lose their day and night-time habitats? How do many animals lose their habitat? How can we protect critical habitats of eagles? Critical Habitats Along the Upper Delaware River Our focus for wintering eagle research has now shifted to the Upper Delaware River. Here we have launched a multi-year study in partnership with the National Park Service (Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River). We want to define essential habitats used by eagles along the Upper Delaware. This study will also include breeding eagles in this area and their young. You can follow our winter eagle research through our DEC website or on the Internet. Critical Habitat All Along the Migration Route Spring 2006 map showing migration routes of eagles We're also trying to locate similar critical habitats along the migration routes on the breeding grounds of these eagles We have learned that many New York wintering birds are coming from similar areas in Canada—breeding areas that may not be known by the Canadian and Provincial governments, and that might also need protection. Thanks to satellite radios that can operate for multiple years, we have learned a great deal about 'fidelity' to these sites and routes. We have learned that these eagles use their wintering areas, migratory routes and nesting areas with substantial faithfulness year after year. Journal Question: If you take a road trip to visit someone do you often stop at the same places along the way to eat or spend the night? Eagles do this, too! We can learn where they stop because they are wearing satellite tracking devices. Immature Eagles We are also beginning to study immature eagles tagged at their New York nest sites. These are the young hatched and reared by our resident breeding pairs. By using satellite tracking technology with these young eagles, we hope to find answers to questions such as: When do they depart from their natal (nesting) territories? Where do they go? What patterns of movements will be exhibited as they age? Where will they ultimately set up their own breeding territories once they become sexually mature? How long are they surviving? Do nest mates leave and travel together? Do any similarities exist in movements of fledglings from the same geographic area? (So far, no such patterns have been observed.) Research Highlights at the New York State Dept.of Environmental Conservation Keep up with the latest Bald eagle research reports published by the DEC. DEC announces Results of 2007 Bald Eagle Breeding Season >> Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey >> Eagle Eye Nye New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation Delmar, NY This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2008 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.