Domaines vitaux et déplacements migratoires d'Aigles royaux nichant dans la région de la baie d'Hudson au Québec

• Main Author: Brodeur, Serge, 1961-
• Other Authors: Bird, D. M. (advisor)
• Format: Thesis
• Language: French
• Published: McGill University 1994
• Subjects: Golden eagle > Migration > Québec (Province) > Hudson Bay Region; Golden eagle > Québec (Province); Golden eagle > Food; Baie d'Hudson; Baie-d'Hudson; Baleine; Canada; Hudson; Hudson Bay; Branta canadensis; Aquila chrysaetos; golden eagle
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=55438

The objectives of this study were to test for the feasibility of satellite radio-tracking of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) breeding in the Grande-Baleine hydro-electric study area, to assess the size of their home-ranges, to determine their food habits during the nesting season, and to describe migration routes and wintering grounds of these birds. In June and August 1992, six golden eagles, of which 5 adults (4$ rm sp{o}$ + 1 sex unknown), were caught and fixed with transmitters in order to follow their movements over one year. The golden eagles fed on various animal species, i.e. 8 mammals, 15 birds and one fish, during the breeding season, however Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were the main item in their diet. Four of the adult eagles undertook their fall migration in October 1992. The other adult eagle died of an unknown cause while the fate of the nestling could not be determined. All the migratory birds moved south to the United States, but they used different migration routes. The four golden eagles reached their wintering grounds in November and December, 1992. After a three to four month stay in the wintering area, three eagles undertook their spring migration in March 1993. When returning to the breeding area, two of the eagles followed the same migration routes used in fall, while the third one flew off course to the west into Ontario. The first two birds reached their former territories in March and April while the third eagle only arrived in mid-May 1993.