Variation in quality of Golden Eagle territories and a management strategy for wind farm projects in northern Sweden

Hipkiss, Tim; Moss, E. H.; Hörnfeldt, Birger

doi:10.1080/00063657.2014.927416

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…5). Differences among breeding sites in productivity has been documented in empirical studies of Golden Eagles (e.g., Hipkiss et al 2014), and was an emergent property of our model resulting from spatial variability in food supply, disturbances, and competition with other simulated eagles. In this respect, the model predicted specific areas that may contribute disproportionately to long-term productivity of the local eagle population, thereby providing a guide for prioritizing future monitoring and conservation efforts.…”

Section: Parametermentioning

confidence: 85%

Spatial Demographic Models to Inform Conservation Planning of Golden Eagles in Renewable Energy Landscapes

Wiens

Schumaker

Inman

et al. 2017

Journal of Raptor Research

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Spatial demographic models can help guide monitoring and management activities targeting at-risk species, even in cases where baseline data are lacking. Here, we provide an example of how site-specific changes in land-use and other anthropogenic stressors can be incorporated into a spatial demographic model to investigate effects on population dynamics of Golden Eagles (). Our study focused on a population of Golden Eagles exposed to risks associated with rapid increases in renewable energy development in southern California, USA. We developed a spatially-explicit, individual-based simulation model that integrated empirical data on demography of Golden Eagles with spatial data on the arrangement of nesting habitats, prey resources, and planned renewable energy development sites. Our model permitted simulated eagles of different stage-classes to disperse, establish home ranges, acquire resources, prospect for breeding sites, and reproduce. The distribution of nesting habitats, prey resources, and threats within each individual's home range influenced movement, reproduction, and survival. We used our model to explore potential effects of alternative disturbance scenarios, and proposed conservation strategies, on the future distribution and abundance of Golden Eagles in the study region. Results from our simulations suggest that probable increases in mortality associated with renewable energy infrastructure (e.g., collisions with wind-turbines and vehicles, electrocution on power poles) could have negative consequences for population trajectories, but that site-specific conservation actions could reduce the magnitude of negative impacts. Our study demonstrates the use of a flexible and expandable modeling framework to incorporate spatially dependent processes when determining relative risks of proposed management options to Golden Eagles and their habitats.

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Section: Parametermentioning

confidence: 85%

Spatial Demographic Models to Inform Conservation Planning of Golden Eagles in Renewable Energy Landscapes

Wiens

Schumaker

Inman

et al. 2017

Journal of Raptor Research

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“…Golden eagle productivity is less important to population stability than adult survival (Tack 2016), and the relevance of declining nesting success to golden eagle population status is more difficult to interpret than reduced territory occupancy because it is more subject to annual fluctuations in weather and cyclic prey (Steenhof et al 1997, McIntyre and Schmidt 2012). In Washington, productivity at successful territories did not decline over time and nest success increased with rates of occupancy, which lends support to the conclusion that specific territories may be sustaining core reproduction for the population as was surmised in eagle populations in Idaho and Scotland (Hipkiss et al 2014, Kochert et al 2018). Such territories may provide comparatively more prey and would be the most important candidates to protect in the population (Sergio and Newton 2003, Peery and Gutiérrez 2013, Wiens et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Evidence for Depressed Reproduction of Golden Eagles in Washington

et al. 2020

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Beginning in 1977 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted annual surveys to determine statewide golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) occupancy and productivity. Current interest in the regional and national status of the species prompted our investigation to determine utility of historical data in assessing trends in reproduction, and to test efficacy of a sampling protocol that surveyed randomly selected territories and also accounted for detection probability. We found evidence indicating poor reproduction from 38 annual surveys conducted at 301 known territories statewide between 1977 and 2014. At 256 territories in eastern Washington, USA, apparent occupancy was low (truex¯ = 50.9%) and nesting success declined by 22%. All reproductive parameters were higher than at 45 territories in western Washington. We tested efficacy of a sampling protocol in 2013 and 2014 by surveying 108 randomly selected eastern territories. Probability of detecting eagles for these years from ground (x-3.8pt̂= 89%) was greater than from air (x-3.7pt̂= 66%). Our estimate of territory occupancy, corrected by probability of detection, was lower in 2013 (x-3.8pt̂= 56.7%, 95% CI = 46.3–66.7%) than in 2014 (x-3.8pt̂= 73.7%, 95% CI = 64.8–81.7%), as was the estimated number of breeding pairs (2013: x-3.8pt̂= 158, 95% CI = 151–164; 2014: x-3.8pt̂= 187, 95% CI = 182–192). Higher productivity (young/occupied territory) in 2013 (x-3.8pt̂= 0.59, 95% CI = 0.40–0.82) than in 2014 (x-3.8pt̂= 0.41, 95% CI = 0.27–0.59) and lower proportions of ≥1 immature eagle among nesting pairs in 2013 (16%) than in 2014 (31%), suggested higher immature pairing among sampled pairs contributed to inter‐year differences in these reproductive parameters. Current and historical evidence for depressed golden eagle nesting in Washington is consistent with documented effects from habitat conversion, prey declines, lead contamination, and wind power development. We recommend future surveys in eastern Washington adhere to the random sampling protocol and conduct surveys at regular intervals to allow for trend analysis of reproductive parameters to better monitor golden eagle status. Surveys in western Washington, conducted exclusively from ground at all nests, will improve detection and cost efficiency. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

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Spatial patterns in occupancy and reproduction of Golden Eagles during drought: Prospects for conservation in changing environments

et al. 2018

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Variation in quality of Golden Eagle territories and a management strategy for wind farm projects in northern Sweden

Cited by 3 publications

References 14 publications

Spatial Demographic Models to Inform Conservation Planning of Golden Eagles in Renewable Energy Landscapes

Spatial Demographic Models to Inform Conservation Planning of Golden Eagles in Renewable Energy Landscapes

Evidence for Depressed Reproduction of Golden Eagles in Washington

Spatial patterns in occupancy and reproduction of Golden Eagles during drought: Prospects for conservation in changing environments

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