Dispersal and migratory behaviour of osprey and bald eagles in Labrador

• Main Author: Laing, Dawn Kelly
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: McGill University 2005
• Subjects: Osprey > Migration > Newfoundland and Labrador > Labrador; Bald eagle > Migration > Newfoundland and Labrador > Labrador; Newfoundland; Pandion haliaetus
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=84049

This study employed satellite telemetry to document dispersal and migratory behaviour of nine juvenile Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and two adult and five hatch-year Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) from central Labrador between 15 Aug 2002--31 Dec 2003. Autumn average departure dates were 20 October 2002 and 13 November 2003 for the eagles and 13 October for both 2002/2003 Osprey, siblings migrating independently. Juvenile Osprey travelled at an average rate of 200 km/d during fall migration; one adult travelled at a rate of 188 km/d enroute to the Dominican Republic. Eagles travelled an average distance of 1200 km over 40 days at a rate of 81 km/d, wintering as far south as Virginia. Eagles departed wintering areas by 25 March 2003, travelling at an average rate of 76 km/d using similar waterways, river valleys and corridors as taken in the fall. Eagles and Osprey were not documented travelling overnight or crossing large bodies of water.