Bald eagle migration research - 42

Once leg snare and net launcher traps to catch bald eagles are set, it is a matter of waiting -- and waiting. On some days no eagles were caught, on others, only one or two were caught. The eagles were being caught as part of a research study being conducted by Rachel Wheat, a graduate student at the University of California Santa Cruz. Wheat is studying the migration of bald eagles that visit the Chilkat River for her doctoral dissertation. She hopes to learn how closely eagles track salmon availability across time and space. Once caught, solar-powered GPS satellite transmitters (also known as a PTT - platform transmitter terminal) are attached to the backs of the eagles using a lightweight harness. The eagles are then released back into the wild. Pictured here on the bank of the Chilkat River (left to right) are Dr. Scott Ford, avian veterinarian, Avian Speciality Veterinary Services of Alaska, Yiwei Wang, graduate student, University of California Santa Cruz, Steve Lewis, Raptor Management Coordinator, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Wheat. During late fall, bald eagles congregate along the Chilkat River to feed on salmon. This gathering of bald eagles in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is believed to be one of the largest gatherings of bald eagles in the world.

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Alaska Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Alaska Department of Natural Resources Alaska State Parks America Avian Specialty Veterinary Services BAEA Bald Eagle Council Grounds Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Chilkat River Chilkat River Bald Eagle Preserve Department of the Interior Haines Haliaeetus leucocephalus Klukwan North America Rachel E. Wheat Rachel Wheat Scott Ford Scott L. Ford Scott L. Ford DVM Stephen B. Lewis Steve Lewis U.S. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service UCSC US USA USFWS United States United States of America University of California University of California - Santa Cruz Yiwei Wang animal animals aves avian bald eagle bird bird of prey birds birds of prey eagle eagles education fauna four people graduate student horizontal nature outdoor research outdoors protected land raptors research research equipment scenery snow southeast Alaska spotting scope team work teamwork wildlife

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Bald eagle research - Chilkat River eagle migration study