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Golden Eagles and Bald Eagles

GOLDEN EAGLE

• Scientific name- (Aquila chrysaetos) commonly known as the North American Golden Eagle. Aquila Latin for “eagle” and chrysaetos Greek for “golden eagle”.
• Golden Eagles are classified as a bird.
• Golden Eagles have a lifespan of 15-30 years.
• Golden Eagles are Priority and Non-Game species and are State Protected.
• Golden Eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Act (Eagle Act) and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and Lacey Act.
• Golden Eagles are carnivorous aerial predators and eat rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and marmots, cranes, grouse, pheasants, deer, domestic livestock, mountain goats, and bobcats, some reptiles.
• Golden Eagles (Adults) are dark brown with a golden sheen on their features, juveniles have white patches of feathers on their tails and on the base of their tail.
• Golden Eagles are monogamous and may remain with their mate for several years or possibly for life, the threats are habitat loss, lead poisoning, and urban development.

BALD EAGLE

• Scientific name- (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
• Bald Eagles are classified as a bird.
• Bald Eagles have a life span of 15-30 years.
• Bald Eagles are Priority and Non-game species and are State Protected.
• The Bald Eagle was chosen as the national bird of the US on June 20, 1782.
• It is estimated that there are as many as 150 eagles in Northern Nevada currently.
• Bald eagles are found throughout Nevada, in the winter they are often seen (Reno, Truckee River, Lake Mead, Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley).
• Bald Eagles are protected by The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and Lacey Act.
• Bald Eagles are fish eaters, with a diet of trout, salmon, catfish, and waterfowl (ducks, geese, coots) caught in flight or on water, prey small mammals (rabbits, squirrels, prairie dogs, muskrats, jackrabbits) young ungulates. They are scavengers that eat carrion which helps clean up the ecosystem.
• Bald Eagles adults have white heads and tails with dark brown bodies and wings. They have bright yellow legs and bills; juveniles have mostly dark heads and tails; their brown wings and bodies are mottled with white in various amounts. Threats are illegal shooting and lead poisoning and power line electrocution and wind energy and monofilament.

The Lacy Act -makes it a Federal offense to take, possess, transport, sell, import, export the nests, eggs and parts that are taken in violation of any state, tribal or U.S. law.

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668d)- afford protections to eagles including assuring that they are not disturbed and prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from “taking” bald or golden eagles, including their parts (feathers, nests, eggs). The Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act has prohibited take of bald eagles since 1940 and golden eagles since 1962. A violation of the Act can result in a fine of $100,000 and ($200,000 for organizations) and imprisonment of one year, or both for first offense, second violation of this Act is a felony.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)-authorizes the Secretary of Interior to conduct investigations and publish documents related to North American birds and establishes a Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) to approve areas recommended by the Secretary for acquisition. The MBCC also approves wetlands conservation projects recommended by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

https://www.fws.gov/species/golden-eagle-aquila-chrysaetos
http://www.ndow.org/species/golden-eagle/