Considerations for release location

This question was posed to us after the release of the Farley eagle in April 2018: “I am very curious about how these rehabbed eagles fit back into their previous environment. Are they banded and is there any info?”

Does SOAR band birds prior to release?

No, SOAR does not have a bird banding permit and does not band birds prior to release. SOAR has partnered in the past with other bird banding permit holders.

Here is an example of how banding and band return reports help: In 2006, a bald eagle was admitted from Mills County, Iowa with a band. We learned that she was banded as a nestling in Shell, Missouri in 1986!  She had a fractured humerus — which Ross Dirks, DVM, at Dickinson County Animal Clinic pinned. The wing healed nicely, she spent eight weeks in intensive care. After one month in the 100 foot flight she was ready to go. A long-time friend of SOAR, Kathy Hodges, released her on SOAR property in honor and memory of her son Drew, who had just died from cancer. In March 2009 a call from the warden in Mills County, has a dead eagle with a band — yes our baby. From this report, we know that with at least this eagle, she had fidelity to her nesting territory (Mills County) and returned there after release. (Liver biopsy showed lead poisoning as cause of death. She was 23 years old and in perfect feather.)

How do bald eagles (and other raptors) fit back into their environment?

Kay worries more about the non-migratory birds, especially owls. Before release, we look for a major travel corridor to make it easy for them to find a new territory / open space. River corridors are often used. Habitat is key.

Birds that make giant movements she worries less about. With bald eagles released during nesting season and the potential for hatchlings in the nest, she tries to avoid known active nesting territory. Here is where we can use telemetry data to help us learn about the giant movements of some eagles.

An adult bald eagle was admitted to SOAR on 9 July 2017 with a telemetry unit and band. This eagle was originally banded and fitted for a telemetry unit in Oklahoma, read her rehab story here, and is part of an Oklahoma Study with many of the same researchers as working on the Midwest Telemetry Study. Listen to this “In-Depth” Radio segment with Dr Bob Leonard from KNIA / KLRS Radio in Knoxville, Iowa as he talks with SOAR friend Marla, Kay Neumann, and Sara Schmuecker about the eagle release on 27 September 2017. Please note the info Sara shares about the importance of the telemetry research being conducted.

“Oklahoma’s” telemetry unit was turned back on and started sending data on 28 September 2017. The map shows her position (mostly) at the end of each month. She went from central Iowa down through the Ozarks, to east-central Oklahoma, to the Oklahoma-Texas border, and then a huge shift northwards where in mid-April this eagle was on Benton Slough in the Mississippi River between Des Moines County, Iowa and Henderson County, Illinois. From there she headed to northern Minnesota. On 16 May 2018 she was NE of Waskish, MN and Upper Red Lake.