Bald eagle winter roost characteristics in Lava Beds National Monument, California
Northwest Science
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Abstract
This study provided a survey of bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) winter roost habitat (in 4 km2 of potential roost areas) in southern Lava Beds National Monument, California. A systematic-clustered sampling design (n=381 plots) was used to compare forest stand characteristics in two primary roost areas (Caldwell Butte and Eagle Nest Butte) and two potential roost areas (Hidden Valley and Island Butte). A 100 percent inventory of roost trees in Caldwell Butte (n=103 trees) and Eagle Nest Butte (n=44 trees) showed they were spatially clumped and restricted to 12.7 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively, of the study areas. Roost trees, primarily ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), averaged 81.1 ± 1.3 cm dbh (mean ± 1 S.E.) compared to non-roost trees (>35 cm dbh) that averaged 52.2 ± 1.0 cm dbh. Roost trees were generally taller and more open-structured than non-roost trees. All four study sites had adequate numbers of mid-sized trees (10 to 50 cm dbh) to replace the current stock of older, larger roost trees. However, seedling and small trees (<10 cm dbh) in the roost areas were spatially clumped and few, suggesting that maintaining a continuous population of roost trees may be a problem in the distant future. Long-term studies of changing winter roost habitat and eagle use are essential to protect the bald eagle in the northwestern US.
Suggested Citation
Stohlgren, T.J., 1993, Bald eagle winter roost characteristics in Lava Beds National Monument, California: Northwest Science, v. 67, no. 1, p. 44-54.
ISSN: 2161-9859 (online)
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Bald eagle winter roost characteristics in Lava Beds National Monument, California |
| Series title | Northwest Science |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 1993 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Northwest Scientific Association |
| Publisher location | Cheney, WA |
| Description | 11 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Northwest Science |
| First page | 44 |
| Last page | 54 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Other Geospatial | Lava Beds National Monument |