Visitation of high mountain bogs by golden eagles in the northern Great Basin

• Main Authors: Charlet, D.A., Rust, R.W.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Hosted by Utah State University Libraries 1991
• Subjects: bogs; mountains; Aquila chrysaetos; USA; Nevada; Jarbidge Mts; California; Warner Mts; habitat utilization; Coniferopsida: Gymnospermae; Spermatophyta; Plantae; Salicaceae: Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Falconiformes: Aves; Vertebrata; Chordata; Animalia; Angiosperms; Animals; Birds; Chordates; Dicots; Gymnosperms; Nonhuman Vertebrates; Plants; Spermatophytes; Vascular Plants; Vertebrates; Populus Tremuloides; Coniferous Woodland; Habitat Requirement; Drinking; Bathing; Forest Sciences; golden eagle
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/aspen_bib/2776; https://sora.unm.edu/node/51622

Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) were observed drinking and bathing in three high mountain bogs in the Jarbidge Mountains of northern Nevada. Six additional sites in the Jarbidge and two in the Warner Mountains of northern California showed evidence of drinking activity. These "eagle bogs" all shared four physical attributes that distinguished them from other high mountain bogs in these ranges. These attributes were: (1) association with a spring above the highest quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), (2) presence of an open area containing pools (without steep or undercut banks) near the spring, (3) cover on three sides in the form of cliffs and/or dense coniferous woodlands at least 10 m away from the pools, and (4) a narrow opening in the cover (10-30 m), on the lower side of the bog followed by a steep drop. The frequency of Golden Eagle visitation strongly suggests that eagle bogs are an overlooked but important habitat requirement for the species in the Great Basin.