A new community science opportunity!





Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife





*mefishwildlife.com*






*Maine Golden Eagle Study*

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in collaboration with the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group [ [link removed] ] (EGEWG) and Conservation Science Global [ [link removed] ] (CSG) is working to better understand golden eagles in Maine, and we need your help!

A golden eagle with wings outstretched, taking off from the surface of the snow.

Photo courtesy of Don Dunbar

*Documenting golden eagle presence, habitat use, and movements in Maine through community science.*

The golden eagle is an Endangered species in Maine and is of concern throughout its eastern range due to its small population size, vulnerability to human-related threats, and considerable gaps in knowledge about habitat use and movement. The Maine Golden Eagle Study [ [link removed] ] aims to address these knowledge gaps to inform management actions by raising awareness of golden eagles in Maine and increasing participation in conservation efforts through community science.

*Learn About the Maine Golden Eagle Study* [ [link removed] ]


Ways to Participate

The focus of this project is the use of trail cameras to detect the presence of golden eagles, but there are several ways for birders, hunters, landowners, trappers, and wildlife enthusiasts to participate [ [link removed] ] in the study. Choose the option that is the best fit for you!

A biologist in a winter coat checks a trail camera attached to a tree in the snow.

A green and white camera icon [ [link removed] ]
 

Set up and monitor a baited camera trap.

Baited camera traps are motion-activated trail cameras set up to photograph visitors to a supplied food source. They are an effective way to detect golden eagles that often would not otherwise be observed. Anyone who currently monitors baited camera traps is welcome to join, and those interested in trying it for the first time or collaborating with friends, family, organizations, or school groups are also encouraged to participate!



A green and white tree icon [ [link removed] ]
 

Host a camera trap on your land.

A hands-off way for landowners to contribute to this project is to offer access to their land for another participant to bait and monitor a camera trap. This option may also be of interest to land managers interested in supporting community science and learning more about the wildlife on the parcels they manage.



A green and white deer icon [ [link removed] ]
 

Supply lead-free bait.

Providing lead-free (animals harvested or dispatched without lead ammunition) bait for a camera trap site is a great way to help volunteers successfully maintain and monitor a location. Bait may include renderings from slaughter and meat processing facilities, roadkill (with appropriate permission/permits), or legally harvested animals.



A green and white binoculars icon [ [link removed] ]
 

Report golden eagle observations.

If getting involved with baited camera traps isn't a good fit for you, you can still contribute to the study by reporting golden eagle sightings. With this option, there is no need to sign up. Simply report the date and location of any golden eagle sightings in Maine through eBird [ [link removed] ] or the MAINE Birds Facebook group [ [link removed] ].




A green and white arrow icon [ [link removed] ]
Spread the word!

One of the best and easiest ways you can help is to spread the word about this exciting community science opportunity! Share a link to the Maine Golden Eagle Study website (mefishwildlife.com/goldeneaglestudy [ [link removed] ]) on your social media pages, and/or download and share the project flier [ [link removed] ].



*Join the Maine Golden Eagle Study* [ [link removed] ]


More Information

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A golden eagle perched on a log with blue sky in the background [ [link removed] ]
Identifying Golden Eagles [ [link removed] ]

Learning to confidently distinguish Maine's two native eagle species, bald eagles, and golden eagles, is an important first step in contributing to eagle conservation as a community scientist. Brush up on your Maine eagle identification [ [link removed] ] skills before you head out into the field.



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A golden eagle feeding on a deer carcass [ [link removed] ]
*Lead-free Bait [ [link removed] ]*

All bait used in this study should be lead-free (i.e., not harvested or dispatched with lead ammunition). When eagles accidently eat lead fragments as they consume carrion, the lead is absorbed in their blood, tissue, and bones and can be fatal. Eagles and other avian scavengers are particularly susceptible. Learn more about how choosing non-lead ammunition benefits eagles. [ [link removed] ]














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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ·41 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333-0041 · (207) 287-8000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]