D35 has a Transmitter

This morning at 5:45AM, RRP Board Members Brett Mandernack (of Eagle Valley Nature Preserve) and David Lynch, John Howe (Executive Director, RRP), and Carole Mandernack and Ryan Schmitz (both from Eagle Valley Nature Preserve) captured D35 for the purpose of applying a GPS tracking transmitter and leg band. D35 was found to be in great health, and was determined to be female (using measurements of the beak, tarsus, and hallux talon) with a weight of approximately 10.3 pounds. The capture process went very smoothly and D35 was released back at the Decorah Fish Hatchery at approximately 6:50AM and has since been observed flying well around the nesting area. If you have questions about the transmitter, please read this post: https://www.raptorresource.org/2020/07/01/your-transmitter-questions-answered/.

D35 will now join the other Bald Eagles in the Eagle Valley Nature Preserve Bald Eagle migration and travel study that has been ongoing since 1999, providing valuable data that will help ensure the preservation of Bald Eagles within the Mississippi Valley flyway, and other areas. This study had been previously funded by Kohler/Eagle Valley Nature Preserve, but the funding expired on the original study in 2019. The RRP Board of Directors and staff then voted for RRP to further fund for the purpose of gathering more migrational data from birds with a known origin/natal nesting area. We are very excited to compare a male and female eagle sired by DM2 with male and female eagles sired by Dad Decorah…and of course we are excited to compare siblings. Studying the eagles helps us to identify and eventually preserve habitat and resources and also provides valuable insight into their lives and behaviors, which is very valuable to people who rehabilitate and care for bald eagles.

Brett Mandernack and RRP have NO further plans for anymore captures for the 2020 nesting season.

We would like to thank all of the RRP fans for their support and we look forward to learning more about the travels of D35 and D36 along with you!

David Lynch

Raptor Resource Project, Board of Directors