Maine Golden Eagle Study

Photo by Chris Martin

Baited camera traps are motion-activated trail cameras set up to photograph visitors to a supplied food source. They are an effective way to detect golden eagles that often would not otherwise be observed. Managing a camera trap is the best way to be involved in the full scope of this project and creates an excellent opportunity to learn about golden eagles as well as other wildlife along the way. Anyone who currently monitors baited camera traps, such as hunters or photographers, is welcome to join. Additionally, those interested in trying it for the first time or collaborating with friends, family, organizations, or school groups are encouraged to participate!

What you'll do:

• Set up and bait a camera trap.
• Monitor the camera battery level and regularly check the camera positioning and settings
• Manage the bait supply by reviewing the most recent photos or through a site visit.
  • Add bait as necessary to maintain a continuous supply if monitoring a site during January and February.
  • Add bait once per month that you expect would last about a week if monitoring a site between April and December.
• Submit all photos that were taken regardless if eagles were present.

Camera Trap Quick Start Guide (PDF)

What you'll need:

• Trail Camera
  

  You'll need a reliable trail camera that is set to take photos in response to motion with a minimum interval of 1 minute. You will also need batteries, such as lithium batteries that are more effective in cold weather.
  
  

• Bait
  

  Deer carcasses work well for eagles, but any type of animal will do. If you are getting lots of eagles, ravens, and other scavengers, you may need many carcasses throughout the study period; the exact number you need will be determined by how quickly they disappear and how long you monitor a site.
  
  All carcasses should be lead-free (i.e., not harvested or dispatched with lead ammunition). When eagles accidentally eat lead fragments as they consume carrion, the lead is absorbed in their blood, tissue, and bones and can be fatal. Eagles and other avian scavengers are particularly susceptible due to the high acidity in their stomachs which break down the lead fragments, exposing them to potentially toxic levels of lead.
  
  Learn more about how choosing non-lead ammunition benefits eagles (PDF)
  
  Options for Obtaining Lead-Free Bait

  • Get in touch with nearby slaughter and meat processing facilities to ask if they have renderings that are from animals that were harvested without the use of lead ammunition or chemical euthanasia (e.g., barbiturates). Lists of potential facilities can be found here or here.
  • Reach out to a local trapper for potential opportunities for lead-free carcasses. Consider joining Facebook groups such as Maine Trappers Association, and Maine Fur Trappers. Beavers may work well.
  • Request to be contacted about opportunities to collect roadkill in your area by getting in touch with your nearest Maine Warden Service dispatch center, local law enforcement, or MDOT Regional office. Feel free to provide contact information for the Golden Eagle Study if that is helpful.
  • Collect roadkill items yourself by contacting Maine State Police who will connect you with a game warden who can provide permission if appropriate by issuing a possession permit number.
  • If you need help finding additional sources of bait, email MDIFW Raptor Biologist Erynn Call at erynn.call@maine.gov for potential resources or connections with other project participants.
    
    

• Land

  

  Figure 1a. Maine golden eagle observations
  2013 – 2023 and historic breeding regions.
  Map courtesy of Trish Miller, Conservation
  Science Global. Observations and
  documented breeding are intentionally
  not distinguished on this map to
  help keep the nesting areas private.

  To attract and photograph golden eagles, you need to locate a suitable accessible site. Keep in mind that it is required by law to obtain written permission (e.g., via email, text, or paper) before setting up a baited game camera site on any property that is not your own. View the map below to see historic breeding regions and areas with documented golden eagle observations. Camera traps in these areas are of particular interest but sites outside of these areas are still of great value.
  
  View maps of historic breeding regions and observations by county
  
  The site should have suitable habitat for golden eagles, particularly in isolated forested areas or hilltops. The following are attributes of sites that are suitable for this project and for attracting and photographing golden eagles:
  
  
  • Accessibility
    The site will need to be accessed every 2-5 days (depending on how long the bait lasts and what type of game camera you use). Drive-in sites that are safe to access year-round are best.
  • Small clearings
    Eastern Golden Eagles seem to prefer small clearings - smaller than you'd expect. Even a 30–60-foot diameter is suitable, but a 500-foot diameter is probably too large.
  • Large Trees
    Goldens prefer to perch in large trees near a carcass and watch it for a while before coming in, so it's good if there are a few big trees 10-30 feet from the bait site.
  • Elevation
    Golden eagles come in more readily to areas that are higher than the surrounding area and seem less willing to visit low-lying areas. If a low-lying area is your only choice, give it a try!

If this project sounds like a good fit for you, fill out the following form to sign up and get started. If you would like to participate but do not have access to a suitable site, please indicate on the form that you would like to connect with a landowner if one is participating in the project in your area.

Contact Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Raptor Biologist, Erynn Call, at erynn.call@maine.gov with any questions.

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Photo by Laura Zamfirescu

Providing lead-free bait for a camera trap site is a great way to help volunteers successfully maintain and monitor a location.

Anyone can contribute, but it is a particularly good fit for trappers who harvest or dispatch animals without the use of lead ammunition and who are interested in a unique opportunity to get involved in endangered species conservation.

Bait may include renderings from slaughter and meat processing facilities, roadkill (with appropriate permission/permits), or legally harvested animals. Deer carcasses work well for eagles, but any animal the size of a beaver or larger will do. We try to avoid using predators (coyotes, foxes) as it may scare away the eagles and not use any birds due to concern with spreading Avian Influenza.

All carcasses must be lead-free (i.e., not harvested or dispatched with lead ammunition). When eagles accidently eat lead fragments as they consume carrion, the lead is absorbed in their blood, tissue, and bones and can be fatal. Eagles and other avian scavengers are particularly susceptible due to the high acidity in their stomachs which break down the lead fragments, exposing them to potentially toxic levels of lead.

Learn more about how choosing non-lead ammunition benefits eagles (PDF)

Fill out the form below to have your contact information added to a list of potential bait sources for project participants. If connected with a site monitor, you can coordinate with them directly to donate your bait.

Golden Eagle Bait Form

Contact Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Raptor Biologist, Erynn Call, at erynn.call@maine.gov with any questions.

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Juvenile golden eagle photo by Elisa Dahlberg

If getting involved with baited camera traps isn't a good fit for you, you can also contribute to the project by reporting golden eagle sightings. With this option, there is no need to sign up. Simply report the date and location of any golden eagle sightings in Maine. There are two options for reporting golden eagles:

• The best way to report golden eagle sightings is through eBird. Create a free account and get started today!
• Sightings may also be reported on the MAINE Birds Facebook group.

Be sure to brush up on your eagle identification skills before you get started. Bald eagles and golden eagles are both native Maine species, but golden eagles are rare and elusive, and their distribution is not well understood. Learning to confidently distinguish the two is an important first step in contributing to eagle conservation as a community scientist.

You might think that the bright white head of a bald eagle makes this a simple task, but it takes our nation's symbol five years to develop their iconic plumage. For this reason, juvenile bald eagles are often mistakenly identified as golden eagles. Take a look at some key similarities and differences that will help you become proficient in Maine Eagle Identification.

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For this project to be successful, we'll need as many people as possible to participate from different areas of the state. One of the best ways you can help is to spread the word about this exciting community science opportunity! Share a link to this page (mefishwildlife.com/goldeneaglestudy) on your social media pages, and/or download and share the project flier:

Golden Eagle Study Flier (PDF)

Before the start of the study, golden eagles had been documented in 31 townships across 39 unique sites over the past decade. These sightings represent the baseline, or pre-study, observations. 

Since the study began in January 2024, observations have been recorded in 20 townships. Nine of these townships overlap with pre-study observations, while 11 represent new areas where golden eagles were observed for the first time. 

Across both pre-study and current study periods, no golden eagle sightings occurred from May through September. This gap is likely due to the limited use or sharing of baited camera trap photos during these months.  

Observations from 22 sites within 20 townships documented golden eagle presence on 99 days. The most frequently visited site recorded golden eagle presence for 26 days, followed by another site with 14 days. Five additional sites had golden eagle activity ranging from six to nine days, and the remaining sites ranged from one to three days.  

Of the 99 observation days in 2024, 95 were captured via baited trail cameras, three through eBird reports from birders, and one by a camera trapper who photographed a golden eagle flying away by chance with a cell phone. Baited trail cameras have proven highly effective for detecting golden eagles; it's rare to spot them without this method.  

Since the study launched, observations confirming golden eagle presence were submitted as follows: 2024 (13 sites), 2023 (6 sites), 2020 (1 site), 2018 (2 sites), 2016 (1 site), and 2015 (1 site).  

Approximately 45 camera trap sites submitted photos in 2024, and 13 of these sites documented golden eagle activity.  

For study outreach, information has been shared through multiple formats, including email and social media. A presentation on the study was given at the 2024 Raptor Research Foundation conference.