Golden eagles are not known to nest in New York, but they can be seen migrating through the state during early spring and fall, with many overwintering downstate. The last confirmed successful nesting of golden eagles in New York was in Hamilton County in 1970, and the last unsuccessful nest was at the same site in 1979.
The Decline of Golden Eagles in New York
The decline in open space due to reforestation and the use of DDT are believed to have contributed to the extirpation of golden eagles as breeding birds in the Northeast. The 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act was amended in 1962 and renamed The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, providing legal protection for golden eagles.
Identifying Golden Eagles
Golden eagles are large, dark brown raptors with a lighter, golden head and undertail coverts. They take four years to achieve adult plumage, with subadult birds having white patches at the base of their flight feathers and a white tail with a wide, dark band toward the tip and a narrow white terminal edge.
Habitat and Nesting Behavior
Golden eagles breed in a wide variety of open or semi-open habitats, typically from sea level to 12,000 feet, but have been documented as high as 20,000 feet in the Himalayas. Nests are typically on cliffs but also in large trees or on the ground in open areas, and are reused, sometimes for decades, usually for two eggs.
Feeding Habits
Golden eagles primarily feed on smaller animals such as rabbits, hares, squirrels, prairie dogs, pheasants, grouse, partridges, wild turkeys, cranes, herons, and ospreys. They rarely prey on domestic animals, but the belief led to decades of persecution from the late 1930s through the 1960s, with thousands killed by aerial shooting in the western United States.
Migration Patterns in New York
Golden eagles can be seen migrating through New York in March, late October, and November. Unlike bald eagles that soar with wings held straight out, golden eagles fly with a dihedral (wings bent upward) similar to turkey vultures. They tend to migrate north earlier than vultures in spring and south later in the fall.
Spotting Golden Eagles in New York
In open areas, golden eagles can be found flying low and slow over the landscape as they contour hunt. In the fall, with a north wind forecast, mountain tops are a great place to spot them.
Threats to Golden Eagles
Golden eagles face many threats, including energy development, collisions with cars, fences, wires, and wind turbines, loss of habitat to urbanization and human population growth, poisoning from animal control or feeding on carcasses killed with lead ammunition, electrocution on wires, incidental deaths in traps set for animal control and trade, illegal shooting, and climate change effects including wildfires and droughts.
Conclusion
While golden eagles are no longer known to nest in New York, they can still be observed migrating through the state during the spring and fall seasons. Efforts to protect and conserve their habitat and populations continue to be important for the future of this majestic raptor.
References:
– https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/bald-eagle
– https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2021/09/07/golden-eagles-make-impressive-recovery-ny/5702531001/
– https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/golden-eagles-just-passing-through
– https://journeynorth.org/tm/eagle/GoldenA20Capture.html
– https://badgerlandbirding.com/2023/06/12/eagles-of-new-york-two-species-to-know/
