A Survey of Wintering Bald Eagles in Southeastern Montana
Abstract
About 78 Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) wintered on 71,500 km2 in southeastern Montana each winter during the winters of 1976-77, 1977-78, and 1978-79. Most (71%) wintered on major rivers, some (22%) were associated with upland/riparian areas, and a few (8%) wintered strictly on upland sites. Upland wintering by Bald Eagles appears to be more common in the central portion of their winter range on the Great Plains and less common at the northern and southern edges of that range, perhaps due to greater competition for riparian wintering areas in the central Great Plains where wintering Bald Eagles apparently occur at greater densities.