Conservation Target : Bald and Golden Eagles ( Hailaeetus lucocephalus and Aquila chrysaetos respectively) Management Goal: To monitor eagle distributions and occurrences. Promote ethical use and
procurement of feathers. Biological Conditions Unknown population (range edge), stable habitat
Contributed Services Biodiversity, Cultural
Conservation Strategies Inventory, Monitoring
History and Adaptive Process: Eagles (A-Wo-Ha-Li/ ᎠᏬᎭᎵ ) are important in Cherokee culture, as evident in our stories, ceremonies and even the eagle dance ( ᎠᏬᎭᎵ ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗ ) portrayed at the Cherokee Outdoor Drama Theater. In 1940, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act, later amended to include golden eagles ( ᎠᏬᎭᎵ ᎠᏬᏚᎯ ᏧᎩᏓᏟ ), which prevented the selling, killing, or possession of any part of the birds. However, their decline continued due to threats of chemical contamination and habitat loss. In 1978, bald eagles were federally listed as an endangered species. Since their listing, populations have rebounded greatly. In 2007, they were removed from the threatened and endangered species list and bald eagles have been abundant in western North Carolina. We have met with groups that monitor golden eagles, but because we are at the southern end of their range, we may not see as many individuals, and they may only stay a short time. Anecdotally, there has been an increase in interest in having feathers for graduating high school students. The demand has increased with growth of state tribes and culture clubs, that have also found ways to source feathers. The USFWS has a backlog of eagle feather applications with citizens of EBCI waiting years. Therefore, many tribes are finding other ways to source feathers. Our office will support citizen interests in the use of eagles. MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Current Methodology for Conservation Strategies Inventory: Intake of citizen sightings and haphazard sampling to determine locations, temporal occurrence for both bald and golden eagles. Monitoring: Using trail cameras and opportunistic sightings. Leverage roadkill to bait camera traps for high elevation sampling of golden eagles.
Results and Discussion for Information Transfer and Processing Ecological:
Both golden and bald eagles have been found on tribal lands. Bald eagle sightings have increased over the last decade. Golden eagle presence seems to be isolated to the Fall and are undetected in some years. Sightings of bald eagles taking fish- assumed to be trout. Captured camera footage of bald and golden eagles competing over a deer carcass in previous years. Management: Continued maintenance of riparian buffer for hunting purposes. Deer carcasses are difficult to source- we need to know if other carcasses will work to attract golden eagles to camera traps. Social & Cultural: Compiling background materials on eagles. Made federal (USFWS) eagle feather applications available to community members.
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