Golden Eagles Flashcards
What is the scientific name for a Golden Eagle?
Aquila chrysaetos
Nickname for Golden Eagle
The King of Birds
Taxonomy of Golden Eagles
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aquila
Species: A.chrysaetos
How fast can a Golden Eagle fly?
They can fly up to 120 mph but when swooping or diving, they can reach speeds of 150 to 200 mph
How big do Golden Eagles get?
Golden eagles range from height: 26” to 40” Wingspan:
5 ft 11in to 7 ft 8 in
Females are larger than males.
Males weigh 6.2 to 10 lbs. Females weigh 7.9 to 15 lbs.
The wingspan of golden eagles is the fifth largest among living eagle species.
The further north, the larger both males and females are.
How long do Golden Eagles live?
In the wild, they are believed to live 30 or more years, and up to 68 in captivity.
When do they hunt?
They are diurnal hunters. meaning they hunt in the day time.
Why are Golden eagles come to be called Golden?
They named for the shining golden feathers on the back of its head and neck, which inspires awe in people around the world.
What special adaptations do Golden Eagles have
Golden Eagles have feet adapted to catching their prey on the ground. Their legs are well-feathered, unlike the legs of Bald Eagles. They also have keen eyesight that can identify objects three to four times farther away than humans, Eagles tear and swallow their food in large pieces, temporarily storing it in an area below the throat called the “crop” before actual digestion. The crop is a noticeable bulge when full that can store over two pounds of prey when food is plentiful.
Where are Golden Eagles found?
They are found through out the Northern Hemisphere, North America, Europe, Asia, and Norther Africa.
What habitat do they live in?
They are found in grasslands, deserts, tundras, mountain and rural areas. adapting with ease to each habitat
What do Golden Eagles eat?
They prey mainly on mammals, such as jackrabbits, ground squirrels and marmots. They also eat reptiles, birds, fish, and large insects. They have been known to scavenge the remains of larger animals, such as deer. Most prey is caught on the ground, but golden eagles are capable of catching birds in mid-air.
Do they migrate?
Golden Eagles will migrate from the Canadian provinces and northern tier and northeastern states to areas that are milder in the winter and/or may have less snow cover. During winter, Golden Eagles are found throughout the continental United States.
At what age are Golden Eagles considered sexually mature?
Between 4 and 7 years of age
Do Golden Eagles mate for life?
Yes. If one dies, the surviving mate will find another.
Where do Golden Eagles nest?
Starting 1–3 months before egg-laying, a Golden Eagle pair builds a nest of sticks and vegetation—sometimes also including bones, antlers, and human-made objects such as wire and fence posts. Golden eagles build nests on cliffs or in the largest trees of forested stands that often afford an unobstructed view of the surrounding habitat. They may also nest on human-made structures such as towers. Nests are huge, averaging some 5-6 feet wide, and 2 feet high, enclosing a bowl about 3 feet by 2 feet deep. The largest golden eagle nest on record was 20 feet tall, 8.5 feet wide.
Describe the eggs?
Appearance:
white to cream or pale pink in color, with small brown spots. Golden eagle eggs are made of calcium carbonate.
They are roughly 3 inches long and 2.3 inches wide.
The female’s bones contribute up to 10% of the calcium needed to form the eggshell.
Size:
The average size of a golden eagle egg is about 3.0 x 2.3 in.
The average weight of a golden eagle egg is 5 oz.
Clutch size:
A golden eagle clutch typically contains 1–3 eggs but sometimes contain 4.
The eggs are usually laid 3–4 days apart.
Larger clutches are more likely to occur in years when there is an abundance of prey.
How long do Golden Eagles incubate eggs?
The incubation period for golden eagle eggs is 41–45 days, with an average of 42.4 days.
The female does most of the incubating, but both parents bring food for the eaglets.
At what age do Golden Eagles fledge (begin to fly)?
45–81 days old, although the average is ~64 days
What age do Golden Eagles leave their parents?
They use the nest has a home base for an additional 4-6 weeks after fledging.
Parents will continue to care for them during that time.
They disperse out on their own at around 6 months old.
What are baby Golden Eagles called?
Eaglets
At what age are Golden Eagles considered adults?
Adult plumage is attained between 5 ½ and 6 ½ years old.
They may still have some white on their tails with their first attempt a mating.
- What are the major threats Golden Eagles face?
The Golden Eagle, found across Europe, Asia, and North America, is declining in many areas due to human activity. A major threat is collisions with wind turbines built in critical habitats for eagles and other birds. Lead poisoning is another serious danger, as the eagle scavenges in areas contaminated by lead from hunting. Without emergency treatment, lead ingestion causes severe illness or death. To protect eagles, condors, and other vulnerable birds, hunters are urged to use non-lead ammunition.
Are Golden Eagles endangered?
There are an estimated 31,800 individuals in North America
IUCN Status is critically endangered.
Name a Fantastic Fact:
The Golden Eagle serves as the national emblem of Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Kazakhstan, which makes it the most common official national animal in the world.
Golden eagles are important to many Native American cultures, which include the bird and its feathers in ceremonies.
What is Apache’s story?
In 1989, Apache, a bald eagle, was rescued near Rye, Arizona, after a tragic accident. While likely eating roadkill on the side of the Beeline Highway, he tried to avoid an oncoming semi-truck, clearing the cab but hitting the trailer, which left him unconscious.
Ezekiel Good Buffalo Eagle, an Apache tribal member, witnessed the incident, stopped his vehicle, and wrapped the injured eagle in a sleeping bag before transporting him to the valley for care.
Apache sustained two broken wings and a severe concussion. Despite intensive care, he permanently lost the ability to fly due to joint fractures in his right wing.
With a calm disposition, Apache adapted well to life in captivity and became Liberty Wildlife’s first education eagle, working closely with Joe Miller.
He was named after the Apache tribe who rescued him. To this day, he inspires awe as he visits schools and events, showcasing his resilience and majesty. Now he is retired from programs.
What is Anasazi (Sazi) story?
Anasazi, a golden eagle, was brought to Liberty Wildlife as a 3-week-old nestling on May 9, 2011, by an Arizona Game and Fish officer. She had been transferred from a Lakeside rehabilitator, who reported that the person who found her claimed she was discovered on his steps and fed deer meat.
Upon arrival, it was clear Anasazi, nicknamed Sazi. was imprinted and experiencing breathing difficulties. X-rays revealed severe folding fractures in her ribs, right tibia, and left humerus. These injuries were caused by a calcium-deficient diet, which failed to support proper bone development, leaving her bones too weak to handle her rapid growth.
Although her diet was corrected immediately, the damage was irreversible. Her compressed ribcage limits her air intake, preventing her from flying long distances necessary for hunting, making her unsuitable for release into the wild.
She is named for the ancient Anasazi people who once inhabited the pueblos in the four-corners area.
What is Orion’s story?
Orion was found on the ground along the I-17 near Flagstaff. He was brough to liberty in February 2013. In addition to a fractured left wing, he was also found to have aspergillosis (Valley Fever).
Despite the surgery to repair the wing, the elbow was so badly damaged it limited his flight abilities.
The aspergillosis was treated but his breathing ability was compromised. As such he could not go back to the wild and became an educational ambassador. He is named for the Orion Constellation.
What is Brienne’s (Brie) story?
Brienne (Brie) was brought to Liberty Wildlife as an immature first year, in December 2018 having severe wing injuries as a result of electrocution. She had both nerve and tendon damage, eliminating her ability to fly.
Additionally, she was found to have aspergillosis which would require periodical blood work to monitor this disease throughout her life. She is now another eagle ambassador for Liberty.
Due to her large size, she was named after Brienne of Tarth of Game of Thrones fame.
