Vertebrate Species in progress

Five Year Site Occupancy, Nesting Success, Movement Behavior, and Genetic Structure of Golden Eagles in Western San Diego County, California

The status of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in coastal southern California is unclear. To address this knowledge gap, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with local, State, and other Federal agencies began a multi-year survey and tracking program of golden eagles to address questions regarding habitat use, movement behavior, nest occupancy, genetic population structure, and human impacts on eagles. Golden eagle trapping and tracking efforts began in September 2014. During trapping efforts from September 29, 2014, to February 23, 2016, 27 golden eagles were captured. During trapping efforts from February 24, 2016, to February 23, 2017, an additional 10 golden eagles (7 females and 3 males) were captured in San Diego, Orange, and western Riverside Counties. Biotelemetry data were collected between November 22, 2014 and February 23, 2016. Biotelemetry data for 26 of the 37 golden eagles that were transmitting data from February 24, 2016, to February 23, 2017 are presented in the reports. These eagles ranged as far north as northern Nevada and southern Wyoming, and as far south as La Paz, Baja California, Mexico. For more information on this study, please visit the USGS website: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ds994 .
Project Groups
  • SDMMP10 Golden Eagle Studies - San Diego County

Project Focus

Golden eagle

Robert N. Fisher

U.S. Geological Survey

Robert N. Fisher

Sarah McCutcheon

Kris Preston

Jeff Tracey

Strategic Elements
  • FY15-16 - 1.2
Project Location
Baja California, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego
Central-central, Central-east, Central-west, North-central, North-east, North-west, South-central, South-east, South-west
10, 11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
File name Lead Author Year Type
A Clarification on the Effects of Urbanization on Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Habitat Selection Tracey, Jeff; Madden, Melanie; Bloom, Peter; Fisher, Robert N. 2020 report
Biotelemetry Data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Captured in Coastal Southern California, February 2016– February 2017 Bloom, Peter; Fisher, Robert N.; Katzner, Todd; Madden, Melanie; Sebes, Jeremy; Tracey, Jeff 2017 report
Biotelemetry Data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Captured in Coastal Southern California, February 2017–December 2019 Tracey, Jeff; Madden, Melanie; Molden, James; Sebes, Jeremy; Bloom, Peter; Fisher, Robert N. 2020 report
Biotelemetry Data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Captured in Coastal Southern California, November 2014–February 2016 Bloom, Peter; Fisher, Robert N.; Katzner, Todd; Madden, Melanie; Sebes, Jeremy; Tracey, Jeff 2016 report
Golden Eagle Habitat Selection as a Function of Land Use and Terrain, San Diego County, California Tracey, Jeff; Madden, Melanie; Bloom, Peter; Katzner, Todd; Fisher, Robert N. 2018 report
Topographic drivers of flight altitude over large spatial and temporal scales Bloom, Peter; Fisher, Robert N.; Tracey, Jeff; Katzner, Todd; Duerr, Adam; Miller, Tricia; Dunn, Leah; Bell, Douglas 2019 journal article