Journal Article

Habitat Use by Nonbreeding Bald Eagles in North Carolina

Chester, Dennis N., Stauffer, F., Smith, Timothy J., Fraser, James D., Luukkonen, David R.

1990

Overview

We examined nocturnal roosting and diurnal perching habitat used by nonbreeding bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in North Carolina during 1986 and 1987. Eagles used roost areas that were less dense, had less canopy cover, were closer to forest edges, and had larger trees than randomly selected areas, and they used trees that were larger than random trees for roosting and perching. Suitable perch trees were the most important attribute of perching habitat. Eagles used loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and trees with leafless crowns, probably because these crowns were most accessible for perching. Eagles perched in the bottom of tree crowns during summer, but they perched in tree tops during fall and winter. Eagle did not use perches that were different from forest stand characteristics within 20 m of perch trees, forest cover types in 1-ha blocks surrounding perches, or habitat disturbances. Roosting habitat should receive primary management emphasis because of its apparent low occurrence in central North Carolina. Perch trees were plentiful, but long-term management is desirable.

• Publisher: The Wildlife Society,Wildlife Society,Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subject: Animal and plant ecology / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Animals / Autoecology / Aves / Biological and medical sciences / Birds / Eagles / Ecology / Edge effects / Endangered & extinct species / Forest habitats / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Habitat utilization / Haliaeetus leucocephalus / Hardwood trees / Hardwoods / Lakeshores / Leaves / Seed trees / Tree crowns / Trees / Vertebrata