About


Two sub-adult Golden Eagles in a territorial dispute


Mission


The Spring 2019 Camp Baker, Montana Eagle Watch Project intends to contribute to the understanding of spring raptor migration (with a particular emphasis on Golden and Bald Eagles) in western Montana. In addition, if this project is continued long term it may have the potential to enhance our knowledge of raptor population status and trends. Most importantly, as apex predators, these raptors may serve as critical barometers of overall ecosystem health and human-caused environmental changes (including climate change).


Project Description

Standardized scientific counts of migrating raptors may provide valuable information regarding overall population numbers, and if any particular species is in decline.  Based on preliminary spring raptor counts conducted at Camp Baker, MT, it is estimated that this site may yield seasonal count totals of between 1,000 and 2,000 migrant raptors, with approximately half or more being eagles.  The Camp Baker Eagle Watch Project is designed to determine not only total migrant raptor numbers and the seasonal timing of passage of the birds, but we also want to assess the flight paths (or overall breadth of the raptor migration flight lines).  This information will help to determine how difficult it will be to conduct a consistent, standardized count of the raptor migration on an annual basis at this location.  It is important to emphasize that this project is exploratory in nature.  For example, if the migrating birds are often extremely high, and/or use broad or widely scattered flight lines, long-term raptor population monitoring at this site may not be worth the effort.  After an initial 3 years of this project we shall assess if an ongoing, standardized count at this location is likely to provide useful information from both a scientific and conservation perspective.

Staff




Raptor migration observer: Adam Richardson



Adam first became aware of birds in elementary school through his sixth-grade teacher Mr. McCormick.  It wasn’t until 10 years later working as a river guide that he became aware of birding as a hobby and he began keeping a life list.  More recently, as a participant of Patagonia’s Environmental Internship Program he had the opportunity to work in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, America’s only Arctic refuge.  Thanks to the careful guidance and support of field biologists employed by Manomet of Massachusetts, his interest in birds was renewed eternally.  Upon returning to his full-time job he realized his most intense passion was avian studies.  He spent 3 years working as a field technician on a variety of upland game bird studies throughout the United States.  Currently he splits his time between counting raptors in the spring and fall in Montana and summers performing avian point counts throughout the intermountain west.