The Golden Eagle; Second Edition

by Jeff Watson, with the assistance of Des Thompson and Helen Riley

• ISBN13: 9780300170191
• ISBN10: 030017019X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2011-03-08
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

A majestic and awe-inspiring bird, the golden eagle flies throughout the northern hemisphere and is one of the largest birds of prey in North America. Among ornithologists and other scientists today, the species attracts great interest and extensive research. The golden eagle has also captured the imaginations of everyday people throughout history, playing various symbolic roles and appearing in the folklore of societies around the globe. This all-encompassing book presents full current information on the biology and ecology of golden eagles. It includes both original research by raptor expert Jeff Watson and a synthesis of the findings of an array of international scientists. Chapters on such further topics as the cultural importance of golden eagles, conservation issues, and predation on livestock, along with more than 70 superb depictions of the raptors and their landscapes, combine to make this volume the definitive account of the golden eagle.

Author Biography

The late Jeff Watson was director of operations in Scottish Natural Heritage and a world authority on the conservation of the golden eagle. He was a leader in Scotland's internationally important Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation programs and a proponent of major legislation that set new conservation standards across Europe.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 9
Preface to the Second Edition	p. 13
Acknowledgements	p. 15
PublisherÆs Acknowledgements	p. 21
Reflections	p. 23
Introduction	p. 25
The Golden Eagle	p. 31
World range	p. 47
The Scottish Highlands and Islands - Golden Eagle Country	p. 61
Hunting behaviour	p. 75
Food	p. 85
Nest sites	p. 106
Ranging behaviour	p. 125
Nest spacing and density	p. 147
Population estimates and trends	p. 168
The pre-breeding season	p. 182
The breeding cycle - eggs and incubation	p. 193
The breeding cycle - nestling period	p. 207
The post-fledging period and independence	p. 226
Breeding performance	p. 236
Moult	p. 265
Movements and migration	p. 275
Mortality	p. 291
Threats	p. 308
Conservation	p. 341
History and tradition	p. 359
Further research	p. 372
The genus Aquila - distribution and ecology	p. 378
The shaping of the highland landscape	p. 386
Dietary breadth	p. 389
Assessment of food supply	p. 390
Nearest-neighbour distance and density	p. 392
Scientific names of animals and plants	p. 393
Diet of Golden Eagles (% by number) as reported in 24 studies from continental Europe and Asia	p. 397
Diet of Golden Eagles (% by number) as reported from 13 studies in North America	p. 399
Diet of Aquila eagles (% by number) as reported from 16 studies in continental Europe and Asia	p. 401
Diet of Aquila Eagles (% by number) as reported from nine studies in Africa	p. 403
Diet of Wedge-tailed Eagles (% by number) as reported from six studies in Australia	p. 405
Bibliography	p. 407
Index	p. 442
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