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Characteristics of Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Nesting Habitat in Indiana

by Rebekah ZehnderTexas Forest Service Interview

12 July 2012

Introduction

Bald eagles in Indiana Last nest prior to reintroduction was in 1897 Reintroduced in the late 1980s at Lake

Monroe

What factors drive nest site selection?

Geographic variables (landscape scale) Proximity to water Land cover

Proximity to Water

All nests within 7 km of water

Most (92.5%) within 1.6 km

Type of waterbody Rivers: 118 (74%) Lakes: 41 (26%)

Median distance Nest sites: 68 m Random sites: 635 m

Proximity to Water

Land

Cover

NLC

D 2

00

6

Land Cover

14

30

102