Bald Eagles and Golf Courses

Over the years I have had the fortune to work on a number of bald eagle projects, including work to establish the first bald eagle sanctuary in Alaska and later to participate in the bald eagle restoration program efforts in New York State. In the restoration effort we captured,

transported and released wild caught bald eagles from Alaska to New York where they were reared in “hack towers” in Albany County, New York. By managing these caged eagles, while hiding the human presence from them, the eagles were successfully released into the wild to eventually take up residence in the State. It was a successful effort and today New York has a healthy and thriving bald eagle population.

In addition to these efforts I have been pleased to document many active, breeding pairs of bald eagles on golf courses. People tend to think that bald eagles and golf courses aren’t a good mix. Just but one example includes the nesting bald eagles of Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs, Florida (picture by WCI of a Raptor Bay bald eagle.) While the Florida Fish and Game Department expressed concerns about potential for adverse impacts to the eagles, particularly during construction, the birds nested and fledged young each year of construction and continue to do so today. I very much enjoyed my environmental conservation work with Raptor Bay Golf Club and appreciated the developers committment to not only making certain that the bald eagles were protected, but did further outstanding habitat conservation work throughout the property.

Some Interesting bald eagle facts:

Bald eagles have 7,000 feathers.
Longevity - Wild bald eagles may live as long as thirty years.
Bald eagles sit at the top of the food chain
Lifting power is about 4 pounds.
Diet - Mainly fish, but they will take advantage of carrion (dead and decaying flesh).
The bald eagle is a strong swimmer, but if the water is very cold, it may be overcome by hypothermia.
Hunting area varies from 1,700 to 10,000 acres. Home ranges are smaller where food is present in great quantity.
All eagles are renowned for their excellent eyesight.
Nests are built in large trees near rivers or coasts.
An eagle reaches sexual maturity at around four or five years of age.
Fidelity - Once paired, bald eagles remain together until one dies.
Bald eagles lay from one to three eggs.
The 35 days of incubation duties are shared by both male and female.
Nesting cycle - about 20 weeks
Today, there are an estimated 9,789 breeding pairs of bald eagles.
Eagles molt in patches, taking almost half a year to replace feathers, starting with the head and working downward.
The bald eagle became the National emblem in 1782 when the great seal of the United States was adopted.
Causes of death - Fatal gunshot wounds, electrocution, poisoning, collisions with vehicles, and starvation.