PARC Research
Golden Eagle Project at Powdermill Avian Research Center
(PARC)
Wind Power and Migrating Eagles
As our requirement for energy continues to grow and more communities look
to alternative methods of power generation, conflicts between the needs of
human and wildlife populations are inevitable.
One such example is the development of wind power. In the
Appalachian region of the US, the eastern population of golden eagles
migrates along narrow (30-60 mile) bottlenecks along the mid-Appalachian
Mountains. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, these same
areas boast some of the highest potential for development of wind power.
The eastern golden eagle population is small, and a precise understanding
of their migration routes is essential to avoiding conflict as these same
areas are developed for wind power. At PARC, we believe development
can occur in a way that achieves the dual goals of promoting renewable
energy and protecting this special population of raptors. The research at
PARC is essential in aiding developers and land managers to reduce the
threat wind turbines present to migrating eagles.
Telemetry Based Research
Since 2005, researchers and staff at PARC have worked in collaboration
with the Conservation and Field Research program at Pittsburgh's National
Aviary to trap and track golden eagles.
The effort starts when golden eagles are carefully trapped by
researchers. Eagle capture is accomplished using a dead pigeon or
other carrion as bait. Once an eagle has taken the bait, a spring
loaded or cannon fired net is deployed to secure the raptor. One
technique for safe handling is to place a tennis ball in an eagle’s talons
and then wrap an ace bandage around the talons, rendering them ineffective
as weapons. Though an eagle’s beak can be a powerful tool, experience
shows that it is hardly ever used against humans in these capture
situations.
When the program started, each eagle was outfitted with a tiny backpack
that transmitted location telemetry via satellite back to the team at
regular intervals. This satellite system enabled us to acquire fixes
only a few times a day and provided limited data points.
Some of the newer systems developed by Michael Lanzone of PARC’s GIS lab
use small solar panels to power miniaturized components that work using cell
phone technology. Instead of being dependent on satellites, which are
in position only periodically, the cellular transmitters can establish
positional fixes every 30 seconds. In addition to the improved
geo-locator information, a more robust data set is possible, including
altitude, pitch, and flight speed, all of which can be analyzed in relation
to many weather and topographic variables.
The continuing improvement in the technology and the development of
smaller form factors means that the telemetry research begun with the golden
eagles will one day be applied to many smaller migrating bird species.
Program Goals
Partially funded by a Pennsylvania State Wildlife Grant, the ultimate
goal of PARC’s golden eagle program is to gather detailed information about
eagle migration and flight behavior, data that can scientifically support
specific recommendations on how to develop wind power in a way that does not
threaten these majestic birds. Because Pennsylvania is a major migration
corridor for eastern Golden Eagles, the state has a significant regional
responsibility for their conservation
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