112 golden eagles counted

Published 9:25 am Monday, February 17, 2014

LA CROSSE, Wis. — The latest survey of the golden eagle population has counted 112 birds in a region covering southeast Minnesota, southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa.

The count was conducted last month by the National Eagle Center.

Project coordinator Scott Mehus said there was a scarcity of juvenile birds. He said only 19 of the 112 eagles were young birds.

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Some 171 observers conducted a one-day survey on Jan. 18. They drove more than 4,600 miles to search for golden eagles. They also counted 878 bald eagles and 400 red-tail hawks.

The Wintering Golden Eagle Survey is part of a project to learn more about the golden eagle population in the blufflands region. This was the 10th year it was conducted.