New Mexico Project
Modeling bald and golden eagle and other raptor populations and take rates
September 2019 - November 2023
Personnel
- James Cain, Co-Principal Investigator
- Jay Gedir, Principal Investigator
- Fitsum Abadi, Principal Investigator
Participating Agencies
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
The USFWS has scientifically evaluated sustainable take rates for both bald and golden eagles, established regional eagle management units (EMU) with population objectives, conducted surveys to estimate population sizes, and set annual take limits for each species of eagle in each EMU. For incidental take permits for wind energy facilities, the USFWS has developed a peer-reviewed collision risk model (CRM) to predict eagle take at proposed wind energy projects. The USFWS has also adopted a formal adaptive management process for updating the initial take estimates based on post-construction fatality monitoring data once the wind energy project becomes operational.