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Golden Eagle Migration FALL 2019 IN THIS ISSUE: Golden Eagle Migration Profile In Conservation: Tim Schaeffer, PA Fish & Boat Commission Bear Mange in PA Prescribed Fire—Land Management Tool and more! FOUNDATION fall 2019 FOUNDATION CONTENTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE Wildlife for Everyone Foundation 341 Science Park Road, Suite 103 State College, PA 16803-2287 (814) 238-8138 Photo© Mark Nale Mark Photo© [email protected] 4 8 10 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Russ Schleiden FEATURES: utumn is to Wildlife for PRESIDENT Aone of my Everyone so that Janet Nyce 4 PENNSYLVANIA PLAYS PROMINENT ROLE IN favorite seasons in we may expand TREASURER GOLDEN EAGLE MIGRATION Bill Bennett Pennsylvania. I love our activities SECRETARY By Greg Grove. PA’s location central to migration corridor. how the verdant and increase our Michael Schaul GETTING A READ ON BEAR MANGE trees morph into Great Egret in Tom Ridge Wetlands impact across the John Blaschak 8 Margaret Brittingham By Asher Jones. Researchers look for answers to rise in disease. yellow, red, and state. If you are Ashley Diehl orange hues. I love the cozy warmth of fleece already a contributor to Wildlife for Everyone, James Eckles PROFILE IN CONSERVATION John Frailey 10 sweaters as the air turns chilly. please consider giving more. Mike Harpster By Barbara Schroeder. Featuring Tim Schaeffer, PFBC. When you love nature, it transcends all When I first started raising money for non- Gregory Isabella Ralph Martone CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY four seasons. Wildlife for Everyone works profits, I felt a little uncomfortable asking people Reed McCormick 14 hard all year long for all nature lovers and to give more. A colleague said the following to Mike Mulvihill By Mitch Blake. Prescribed fire-valuable habitat management tool. Jerry Regan outdoor enthusiasts... from hikers, to birders, to me, “If you are committed to this project, and Carl Roe AMERICAN BULLFROGS: HUNGRY INVADERS hunters, to anglers, to photographers, to nature believe in why you are raising money, then Blair Soars 16 By Carter Wynn. Population increase impacting existing ecosystems. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR writers, each person’s connection to nature is you should not feel bad about asking people to Susan Hawthorne SEEDLINGS FOR SCHOOLS unique. Wildlife for Everyone is working to give; you are offering them the opportunity to EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS 18 educate Pennsylvania citizens and conserve our invest in something wonderful.” So true! Your Bryan Burhans Pollinator Gardens popular new option. Thomas Grohol woodlands and streams to benefit wildlife and investment will make a difference! Richard Palmer NATURE CENTER VISION TAKES FOCUS you, the nature lover. We want to ensure that Wildlife for Everyone is laying the PA Game Commission 19 By Jerry Regan. Stream restoration anchors Nature Center. OFFICE MANAGER what each of you love best about nature will groundwork for a Nature Center on the site of Judy Onufrak OWL EXPERT TO SPEAK AT 2020 WILDLIFE GALA always be here for you. the Tom Ridge Wetlands in Centre County. The PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR 20 Scott Weidensaul headlines Gala. It is no great secret that it takes money for design will feature elements that meet ADA Barbara Schroeder Wildlife for Everyone to present educational standards allowing all individuals, regardless of HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Suzanne Paterno NEWS AND NOTES: programs and collaborate with conservation physical limitation, the opportunity to connect Tom Ridge partners to restore streams and improve with nature through recreational pursuits. I 21 EVENTS EDITORIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS habitat, and to offer scholarships that advance encourage you to visit the Tom Ridge Wetlands. Ralph Martone, WFEF Board Member Gala, Clay Shoot, Great Outdoor Picnic & Scholarship Fund and Committee Chair, NWTF and POWA the careers of our future conservation Call us at 814-238-8138 to set up a tour or Board Member 22 MEMBERSHIP / ANNUAL APPEAL leaders. Every year we seek funding through for directions. Search Wildlife for Everyone Mark Nale, Outdoor Columnist and Photographer 23 PLANNED GIVING / PRESIDENT’S WILDLIFE CIRCLE memberships, an annual appeal, special Foundation on Facebook and like us to stay Carl Roe, WFEF Board Member events like the annual Wildlife Gala, Sporting informed about the happenings at Wildlife Barbara Schroeder, Editor Clay Classic and Great Outdoor Picnic, as for Everyone. Check out our website, www. SDPcreative, Publication Design well as grants. Every year, we seek to expand wildlifeforeveryone.org to learn more about The mission of the Wildlife for our reach throughout the state, spreading our organization. Everyone Foundation is to promote the conservation message and seeking I thank you for your passion and generosity. wildlife conservation and education SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MAGAZINE SPONSORS: in Pennsylvania. opportunities to improve wildlife habitat and Best, conserve Pennsylvania’s natural resources. www.wildlifeforeveryone.org If you value nature and the restorative Jim and Janet Nyce benefit it provides, please make a donation Susan Hawthorne, Executive Director Cover photo: Linda Stager PENNSYLVANIA WILDLIFE fall 2019 3 PENNSYLVANIA plays prominent role in veteran hawk-counters will cite the Golden slowly, and when necessary, finding another GOLDEN EAGLE MIGRATION Eagle as their personal favorite. They are top thermal to repeat the process. While both level predators that nest in far northeastern wind and thermals work for the raptors, hawk Canada and in the rugged mountains and watchers like windy days better because the by GREG GROVE high plains of the western U.S. and Canada. In updrafts bring the raptors closer to the ridge, the east, Pennsylvania sits right in the center providing a better view. of their principal migration corridor. The Golden Eagles migrate mostly in the ennsylvania mystique of the Golden Eagle is enhanced colder weather of early spring and late Poccupies a central by the timing of their north and south fall, when thermal formation is limited by location in the Ridge- movements, which usually take place during shorter days and weaker sun, and when and-Valley Region of the cold, sometimes brutal conditions of early windy days are more frequent. The best Appalachian Mountains of spring (early March) and late fall (November days for seeing migrating Golden Eagles in eastern North America, and December)—conditions that push Pennsylvania occur soon after a cold front a series of roughly humans who are not well dressed quickly has passed through the state, especially in parallel long, high towards something resembling hypothermia. very late October and much of November. ridges that more-or-less But the big birds fly undaunted on the cold Golden Eagle numbers peak on such days, bisect the state from winds, impervious to the numbing chill felt by with the best hours often occurring late northeast to southwest. the earthbound counters. morning to mid-afternoon. Really good Each ridge serves as a Golden Eagles and other raptors migrate days might see the count push past 25, and “highway-in-the-sky” hundreds of miles (some species migrate on a few rare occasions counts in excess of during raptor migration thousands). Using wing power all the way 35 may occur, but such days do not happen and also provides high would require enormous amounts of energy annually (see Table). perches for humans where, and time spent hunting. Instead, raptors use with an open view and moving air to keep them in flight with far less the right wind, an observer effort than beating their wings all the way “Raptors use moving air to keep can see dozens, hundreds, south and north each year. or, occasionally, thousands of Moving air occurs in two ways. Wind them in flight with far less effort migrating raptors in a single day; which strikes the ridges at a favorable angle than beating their wings all the and is then deflected upwards in strong drafts for some species, more in a single way south and north each year.” season than one could see in a lifetime provides enough current to support migrating of regular birding. birds. At a little over ten pounds, eagles, Fourteen migrating raptor species, as with their great wing surface area, readily well as two vultures, are recorded annually find sufficient lift even on light wind. The Pennsylvania has a dozen or more hawk in Pennsylvania. The two largest species are second kind of moving air is the “thermal”, watch sites that are staffed full-time during the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle, with which occurs on sunny, warm days with the fall season. Two sites average over 200 wing spans of over six feet. While non-birders little wind. As the sun warms the ground, the Golden Eagles in the fall season—Wagoner’s are most familiar with the Bald Eagle, many air above (especially on non-forested land) Gap near Carlisle and Allegheny Front, begins to warm and rise, creating a thermal west of Bedford. In the spring, the premier updraft. Raptors are expert at finding and Golden Eagle watch is at Tussey Mt., near Greg Grove is the founder and lead counter at the Stone using thermals to gain elevation. When high State College, where the counting begins Mt. Hawk Watch in Huntingdon County, the compiler of enough, they set their wings and glide in the in late February to catch the early Golden Winter Raptor Surveys in Pennsylvania, former President of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology and Editor of desired direction. They can cover miles with Eagles; most have already moved north of Pennsylvania Birds. scarcely a wing-flap, losing elevation only Pennsylvania by the third week of March. Photo© Don Bryant Don Photo© 4 PENNSYLVANIA WILDLIFE fall 2019 5 Golden Eagle identification is not difficult 10-year High with a bit of experience. Golden Eagles are Site Location (County) Season season avg. one-day count mostly brown but derive their name from the golden feathers on the nape of the neck.
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