Responses of Nesting Bald Eagles to Helicopter Surveys
Watson JW. 1993. Responses of Nesting Bald Eagles to Helicopter Surveys. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 21(2):171-178
Aircraft are often used to assess distribution and productivity of raptors. Nesting bald eagles have been surveyed from fixed-wing aircraft with minimal disturbance. Fixed-wing aircraft surveys are limited on the type and accuracy of data collected. Helicopters provide a relatively close, stationary platform from which to locate nests and count eggs and young, but they may be more disturbing. This article summarizes the literature reporting bald eagle responses to overflights of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, evaluates the effects of helicopter surveys on behavior and mortality of nesting eagles, and makes recommendations on using helicopters for productivity surveys of bald eagles
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Watson, James
- Units
- GLBA , SITK , VOYA , WRST
- Keywords
- Aerial Surveys, Aircraft, Animal Studies, Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Birds/Ornithology, Distribution, Disturbance, Eggs, Helicopter, Human Disturbance, Management, Nesting, Nests & Nesting, Productivity, Raptor