Golden Eagle Project

The Powdermill bird migration research program is collaborating with the Conservation and Field Research program at Pittsburgh's National Aviary, headed up by Dr. Todd Katzner, in order to monitor the annual migrations of eastern Golden Eagles along selected ridges in western and central Pennsylvania. Former staff Mike Lanzone and Trish Miller are pictured at right, displaying wingspread of a Golden Eagle.

The researchers carefully trap migrating eagles and outfit them with a transmitter, not unlike a tiny backpack, that sends locational data via satellite back to the team at regular intervals. In this way the ornithologists at Powdermill Nature Reserve and the National Aviary can very precisely and accurately track the birds' movements and eventually analyze this information in relation to many weather and topographic variables.

The ultimate goal of this collaborative research project, partially funded by a Pennsylvania State Wildlife Grant, is to gain detailed information about eagle migration and flight behavior that will scientifically support specific recommendations on how to develop wind power in the region in a manner that does not threaten these majestic birds. Because Pennsylvania is a major migration corridor for eastern Golden Eagles, the state has a very significant regional responsibility for their conservation. Click here to learn more about the project on the National Aviary website.

Click on thumbnails for more images:
	Golden Eagle	Dr. Todd Katzner of Pittsburgh's National Aviary	Telemetry device	Golden Eagle release