Golden Sun Walkthrough.pdf
Dortha Chuang
The golden ratio, also known as the golden number, golden proportion, or the divine proportion, is a ratio between two numbers that equals approximately 1.618. Usually written as the Greek letter phi, it is strongly associated with the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers wherein each number is added to the last. The Fibonacci numbers are 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, and so on, with the ratio of each number and the previous number gradually approaching 1.618, or phi.
Phi does show up in other aspects of nature. Tree leaves and pine cone seeds tend to grow in patterns that approximate the golden ratio, and sunflower spirals and other seeds tend to hew close to phi. Phi allows for efficient distribution or packing, so leaves that grow in relation to the golden ratio will not shade each other and will rest in relation to one another at what is known as the golden angle.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in collaboration with the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group (EGEWG) and Conservation Science Global (CSG) is working to better understand golden eagles in Maine, and we need your help!
The golden eagle is an Endangered species in Maine and is of concern throughout its eastern range due to its small population size, vulnerability to human-related threats, and considerable gaps in knowledge about habitat use and movement. This project aims to address these knowledge gaps to inform management actions by raising awareness of golden eagles in Maine and increasing participation in conservation efforts through community science. The focus of this project is the use of trail cameras to detect the presence of golden eagles, but there are several ways for birders, hunters, landowners, trappers, and wildlife enthusiasts to participate!
Baited camera traps are motion-activated trail cameras set up to photograph visitors to a supplied food source. They are an effective way to detect golden eagles that often would not otherwise be observed. Managing a camera trap is the best way to be involved in the full scope of this project and creates an excellent opportunity to learn about golden eagles as well as other wildlife along the way. Anyone who currently monitors baited camera traps, such as hunters or photographers, is welcome to join. Additionally, those interested in trying it for the first time or collaborating with friends, family, organizations, or school groups are encouraged to participate!
You'll need a reliable trail camera that is set to take photos in response to motion with a minimum interval of 1 minute. You will also need batteries, such as lithium batteries that are more effective in cold weather.
Deer carcasses work well for eagles, but any type of animal will do. If you are getting lots of eagles, ravens, and other scavengers, you may need many carcasses throughout the study period; the exact number you need will be determined by how quickly they disappear and how long you monitor a site.
All carcasses should be lead-free (i.e., not harvested or dispatched with lead ammunition). When eagles accidentally eat lead fragments as they consume carrion, the lead is absorbed in their blood, tissue, and bones and can be fatal. Eagles and other avian scavengers are particularly susceptible due to the high acidity in their stomachs which break down the lead fragments, exposing them to potentially toxic levels of lead.
Learn more about how choosing non-lead ammunition benefits eagles (PDF)
Options for Obtaining Lead-Free Bait
If this project sounds like a good fit for you, fill out the following form to sign up and get started. If you would like to participate but do not have access to a suitable site, please indicate on the form that you would like to connect with a landowner if one is participating in the project in your area.
A hands-off way for landowners to contribute to this project is to offer access to their land for another participant to bait and monitor a camera trap. This option may also be of interest to land managers interested in supporting community science and learning more about the wildlife on the parcels they manage. The map below shows historic golden eagle observation locations. Camera traps in these areas are of particular interest but sites outside of these areas are still of great value.
Anyone can contribute, but it is a particularly good fit for trappers who harvest or dispatch animals without the use of lead ammunition and who are interested in a unique opportunity to get involved in endangered species conservation.
Bait may include renderings from slaughter and meat processing facilities, roadkill (with appropriate permission/permits), or legally harvested animals. Deer carcasses work well for eagles, but any animal will do.
All carcasses must be lead-free (i.e., not harvested or dispatched with lead ammunition). When eagles accidently eat lead fragments as they consume carrion, the lead is absorbed in their blood, tissue, and bones and can be fatal. Eagles and other avian scavengers are particularly susceptible due to the high acidity in their stomachs which break down the lead fragments, exposing them to potentially toxic levels of lead.
Fill out the form below to have your contact information added to a list of potential bait sources for project participants. If connected with a site monitor, you can coordinate with them directly to donate your bait.
If getting involved with baited camera traps isn't a good fit for you, you can also contribute to the project by reporting golden eagle sightings. With this option, there is no need to sign up. Simply report the date and location of any golden eagle sightings in Maine. There are two options for reporting golden eagles:
Be sure to brush up on your eagle identification skills before you get started. Bald eagles and golden eagles are both native Maine species, but golden eagles are rare and elusive, and their distribution is not well understood. Learning to confidently distinguish the two is an important first step in contributing to eagle conservation as a community scientist.
You might think that the bright white head of a bald eagle makes this a simple task, but it takes our nation's symbol five years to develop their iconic plumage. For this reason, juvenile bald eagles are often mistakenly identified as golden eagles. Take a look at some key similarities and differences that will help you become proficient in Maine Eagle Identification.
For this project to be successful, we'll need as many people as possible to participate from different areas of the state. One of the best ways you can help is to spread the word about this exciting community science opportunity! Share a link to this page (mefishwildlife.com/goldeneaglestudy) on your social media pages, and/or download and share the project flier:
The eastern population of golden eagles is genetically distinct from its western counterpart, breeds in a region that extends from Manitoba eastward to Labrador and spends winters east of the Great Plains. This population is of concern throughout its range. Golden eagles are listed as Endangered under the Maine Endangered Species Act and a Species of Greatest Conservation Need within the state Wildlife Action Plan.
The last known pair of breeding golden eagles disappeared from the state in 1997, but Maine serves as a migratory corridor and hosts goldens that reside in the state in the summer and winter. Eagles tracked with telemetry have visited areas near historic nests during summer, suggesting that these sites could host breeding eagles in the future. However, the extent of use in the summer, as well as the distribution, habitat use, and movements of eagles throughout the year remains largely unknown.
By harnessing the collaborative efforts of community science, our goal is to enhance our understanding of the presence and movements of Goldens in Maine and beyond. This knowledge will enable us to make well-informed management decisions.
In addition, if a golden eagle is regularly detected by a camera trap, it creates an opportunity for biologists to capture the bird, collect biological samples, and affix a transmitter so their movements can be tracked using telemetry.
The Maine Golden Eagle Study is part of a large-scale regional effort to better understand golden eagle abundance, distribution, movements, and habitat use in eastern North America. Numerous federal and state agencies, non-profit research organizations, and universities are conducting similar studies, and are working collaboratively to reach golden eagle conservation goals. We are proud that Maine is a part of this effort, and excited that you, our state's community scientists, can participate!
You might think that the bright white head of a bald eagle makes this a simple task, but it takes our nation's symbol five years to develop their iconic plumage. For this reason, juvenile bald eagles are often mistakenly identified as golden eagles. Below are a few key similarities and differences to help you become proficient in eagle identification:
Distinguishing similar species in trail camera images is tough because most images will not be perfectly clear like illustrations and photographs in field guides. Key features may not always be visible in the images you capture. If you are going to monitor a camera trap site for this project, it's a good idea to study camera trap images of golden eagles in addition to using a guide. Practicing your identification skills in this context will help you build confidence in identifying golden eagles in various life stages in your own camera trap images.
b1e95dc632