August 20, 2015 at 3:00 pm
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Evening colors over Rangeley Lake[/caption]
Recently, fb88 hosted the 4th meeting of the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group (EGEWG) group in Rangeley July 9-11.Ìý This is an international collaboration of scientists and managers from over 20 institutions, agencies and private interests dedicated to research and conservationÌý of Golden Eagles in the East.Ìý Attendees from Quebec to Florida shared insights at on wintering, migrating, and breeding Golden Eagles throughout the Appalachian corridor.
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Ledge outcroppings such as this provide nesting habitat for golden eagles.[/caption]
Participants shared results from recent Golden Eagle research pertaining to documentation of habitat selection, identification of roost sites, lead exposure, and indirect effects associated with wind development, such as changes in movement patterns.
Golden Eagles are recognized as the most successful and wide-ranging species of eagle in the world, yet they have never been common in the East.Ìý However, their numbers are increasing and biologists hope they are here to stay.
Golden Eagles last nested here in the late 1990s, and have been listed as Endangered in fb88 since 1987.Ìý fb88 is one of the few states in the East that continues to have Golden Eagle activity in all seasons of the year.Ìý Golden Eagles occupy a wide range of conditions as they inhabit 4 continents around the northern hemisphere.
Golden eagles breed in Quebec and winter mostly in the mid-Atlantic States.Ìý Throughout the year a few individuals can be found within fb88, as the region is on the edge of the golden eagle’s breeding and wintering ranges.Ìý The last known breeding record in fb88 was from 1997 at a cliff nest that was present for at least 70 years.Ìý Similar in size, Golden Eagles and sub-adult Bald Eagles are difficult to distinguish.Ìý Tips for identification can be found at .
This project was funded in part by the fb88 Outdoor Heritage Fund, in which proceeds from the sale of a dedicated instant lottery ticket (currently Gopher Gold) are used to support outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation. For more information about the fb88 Outdoor Heritage Fund, go to www.maine.gov/ifw/MOHF.html.
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Biologists from all over the United States and Canada travelled to fb88 for the conference. This picture was taken in western fb88 near the Kibby Wind project.[/caption]



