Dozens Of Bald Eagles In Colorado Being Fitted With Transmitters For Tracking
(CBS4) -- A four-year research project on bald eagles has taken off. Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to better understand the impact of human activity. With rapid population growth in both humans and eagles, experts say nests are beginning to pop up in unconventional places.
"We're trying to get a better handle on the trajectory of our bald eagle population, which seems to be pretty successful, but it located in an area that is really rapidly developing," said CPW Avian Researcher Reesa Conrey.
For the study, CPW is placing 25-30 transmitters on bald eagles from the Denver Metro Area all the way up north through Fort Collins. Researchers will track where the eagles move and how they use their changing habitat.
CPW called it the most comprehensive research project is has ever conducted on bald eagles.
"I think that they're more tolerant of certain kinds of human activities than the literature suggested, but we know that nests do get abandoned," Conrey said. "I don't really have a hypothesis yet as to which particular sorts of activities and in what types of settings are more likely to have a negative impact versus being something the birds can tolerate, but that's something we're really interested in."
This study will show researchers how to better monitor the raptors and conservation efforts. It could also help CPW make better recommendations to cities and developers.
"We know that the development isn't just going to stop at this point, so I think it'll be really helpful if we can tailor our recommendations," Conrey said.
The study began last year and is expected to take three to four years. Volunteers and staff from city, county, state and federal agencies will all help with data collection for this study.