Arizona Bald Eagle Management Program

Occupancy and Reproductive Assessment Flights

Seasonal monthly helicopter flights, carried out between January and June, help determine statewide productivity (the number of young per occupied breeding area). Biologists visit all breeding areas during one or two days each month to determine occupancy, stage of the breeding cycle, and the result of the breeding attempt. This method differs from the standard monitoring protocol of two annual surveys employed nationwide. However, it helps Arizona biologists by: reducing errors in productivity estimation; identifying the exact stage of the breeding cycle to assist with the planning of projects; scheduling of banding events; discovering new breeding areas to implement protective management; and, identifying prolonged incubation to allow for collection of addled (dead) eggs for contaminant analysis.

More information on Arizona bald eagle productivity can be found on the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee’s webpage.