procured another mate and occupied 

 tlie same nest the next season. 



A(l()li)h Murie (1944) stated lliat 

 in Mount McKinley National Park 

 individual pairs of goklen eagles 

 confined their activities to areas less 

 than 10 miles in diauietei-. l)nt he 

 suspected that at times tlicv cniistMl 

 considerably faither aticid, espe- 

 cially when carrion was available. 



MIGRATION 



There is evidence that the golden 

 eagle's movements in fall and winter 

 may be a somewhat more orderly 

 migration than was commonly sup- 

 posed (Broun 1930). That migra- 

 tion may not influence the entire 

 population is emphasized by the fact 

 that in some areas golden eagles 

 remain in their nesting territories 



throughout the year and that in 

 other areas winter concentrations 

 may vary from year to year or even 

 from day to day. The available 

 food supply is probably a govern- 

 ing factor in this respect. Weather 

 conditions are evidently of second- 

 ary importance, as the birds are 

 (juite capable of surviving subzero 

 temperatures satisfactorily when 

 food is obtainable. 



Concentrations and movements 

 during fall and winter have an im- 

 portant bearing on the economic 

 status of the golden eagle in a given 

 locality. Knowledge of these traits 

 and an understanding of the tend- 

 ency toward territoriality during 

 the breeding season is essential in 

 any contemplated ])r()gi"am of eagle 

 management. 



FOOD AND ECONOMICS 



There is no easy way to deter- 

 mine the general economic influence 

 of the golden eagle, and, although 

 there are several methods of ap- 

 proach, each has advantages as well 

 as disadvantages. These methods 

 are discussed in the following para- 

 graphs in advance of the presenta- 

 tion of testimony used in arriving 

 at an appraisal. In the final anal- 

 ysis, conclusions must be drawn 

 from a summation of all evidence 

 and the weight to be given each will 

 rest largely on the analyst's famil- 

 iarity with local conditions. 



Interviews with outdoorsmen 

 yielded evidence regarding the 

 golden eagle that ranged from high 

 praise to outright condenniation 

 and, whereas the author has en- 



deavored to present all shades of 

 ralid testimony, including that in 

 published form, data unduly af- 

 fected by personal bias was dis- 

 carded or ai)propriately evaluated. 

 Careful analysis of crop and 

 stomach contents is probably the 

 most reliable source of information 

 concerning the food eaten, but even 

 this has its limitations. The in- 

 ability to differentiate carrion from 

 captured prey has long plagued the 

 food analyst. Also, after large 

 numbers of eagles are removed for 

 their stomachs, the relation between 

 the residual population and its prey 

 is different from that at the outset. 

 The examination of regurgitated 

 pellets of undigested food likewise 

 has advantages and disadvantages 



9 



