Date of Graduation
2000
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
Committee Chair
Petra Bohall Wood
Abstract
In this study, I examined aspects of fledgling and adult behavior at the nest site. Approximately 90% of the observations placed the fledgling bald eagles within the 456m secondary buffer zone. The fledglings centered their activity in the lowest disturbance levels possible. Fledglings were observed most frequently in the nest, on the ground, or perched in a pine tree. For 92% of the intensively observed individuals, 100% of the 50% core use area occurred within the primary buffer zone. Percent overlap of the 95% core use area with the secondary buffer zone was significantly different between suburban and rural fledglings in 1999, with 46% overlap for rural fledglings and 2.6% for suburban fledglings. Prey delivery and adult attentiveness to the fledgling and nest did not differ between rural and suburban nests. Fledglings departed from the nest sites at approximately the same age across years and site developments.
Recommended Citation
Tinkler, Dorothy Edna, "Ecology of bald eagles during the postfledging period at rural and suburban nest sites in southwest Florida." (2000). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 10536.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10536