and the white-birch-conifer forest, 
but it prefers the more open burn 
habitat and clearings„ On occasion it 
may be seen around beaver dams or 
smaller lakes. A few individual birds 
were seen in 1904 and 1905 (14,22), 
and the species was noted again in 
1924 (2^) . Since then it has been re¬ 
ported in 1943, 1946, 1948, 1950, and 
1963 (27,29,34,32,36). Most of the 
observations were made in the 1936 
burn area or in the natural rock out¬ 
crop openings. 
37. Red-shouldered Hawk ( Buteo 
lineatus (Gmelin)) 
This is a rare summer resident. 
Two were seen in 1904 and 1905 (14,22) 
and two more were reported in 1930 (21). 
No observations have been made since 
that time. 
**38. Broad-winged Hawk ( Buteo 
platypterus (Vieillot)) 
This is a common summer resident 
and a common migrant. The preferred 
habitats are the sugar maple-yellow 
birch forest, the aspen-birch-conifer 
forest, and the swamp type. It tends 
to migrate with large waves of song¬ 
birds and for that reason may be more 
common than most observers have indi¬ 
cated. Single birds and small flocks 
were first reported in August and 
September 1905 (14). From about 1941 
to 1946 this hawk was regarded as one 
of the most common hawks on the island 
(30) . A total of five was seen in May 
or June, 1946, 1948, 1950, and 1963 
(29,34,35,36). Shelton found nests with 
two young July 24, 1960 and July 2,1962 
both in spruce-fir-birch forest (39). 
39. Rough-legged Hawk ( Buteo lagopus 
(Pontoppidan)) 
This is an uncommon migrant; only 
seven specimens have been recorded. 
They were seen at the following loca¬ 
tions: three at Tobin Harbor in Sep¬ 
tember 1929; one at Rock Harbor in 
September 1938 ( 21) ; one at the Daisy 
Farm on Rock Harbor in May 1948 (36); 
and Shelton saw two at McCargoe Cove 
in October 1962 ( 39) . 
40. Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos 
(Linnaeus)) 
The golden eagle is an occasional 
fall and winter.visitor. Shelton saw 
three immature birds: Mount Ojibway, 
October 16, 1960; Siskiwit Lake, Novem¬ 
ber 24, 1962; Siskiwit swamp, March 14, 
1963; and an adult was identified by 
Park Ranger Robert Peterson near 
Huginnin Cove, March 18, 1963 (39). 
**41. Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leuco - 
cephalus (Linnaeus)) 
Before 1958, the bald eagle was 
considered quite common on Isle Royale 
especially when we consider how few 
of these large birds of prey usually 
occupy an area of that size (210 square 
miles) . Nine active nests at seven 
locations were known in 1948. A pair 
of bald eagles had a nest in a large 
tree near Washington Harbor in 1890, 
and another nest was reported for 
Tobin Harbor that year. In 1904 and 
1905 two adults and several nests 
with young were observed in various 
parts of the island (14, 22 ). White 
pines are used most commonly, although 
birch and aspen trees are chosen at 
times (fig. 13). Although the island 
provides an excellent habitat, the 
number of eagles has declined in a 
striking manner the past few years. 
One young eagle hatched in 1961 near 
Lookout Louise represents the last 
known successful nesting. Krefting re¬ 
ported an active nest at Malone Bay 
in July 1962. Shelton observed two 
adults at this nest as late as Novem¬ 
ber 23, 1962, but saw no young (39). 
Single eagles were reported at Hay 
Bay and Ishpeming Lookout Tower in 
the summer of 1963 (34). 
*42. Marsh Hawk ( Circus cyaneus 
(Linnaeus)) 
The marsh hawk is an uncommon 
summer resident and an uncommon mi¬ 
grant. The habitat most preferred 
includes the burn area and clearings. 
25 
