Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The population of Bald Eagles in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park has
declined over the past few decades. It is hypothesized that changes in prey availabilities
from alterations to ecosystem conditions have contributed to this decline. Our goals were
to document diet and explore how prey availabilities may affect the Bald Eagle. For the
2009 and 2010 breeding seasons we collected prey remains from nest sites and video
monitored provisioning of prey. Prey remains consisted of 33 species and were
compositionally different than prey remains collected prior to ecological changes,
suggesting changes in prey availabilities. Also, provisioning rates were significantly
lower than Bald Eagles in other North American regions and declined throughout the
breeding season. Our results suggest that prey availabilities has affected the food habits
of breeding Bald Eagles in Florida Bay, which may be contributing to their decline.
declined over the past few decades. It is hypothesized that changes in prey availabilities
from alterations to ecosystem conditions have contributed to this decline. Our goals were
to document diet and explore how prey availabilities may affect the Bald Eagle. For the
2009 and 2010 breeding seasons we collected prey remains from nest sites and video
monitored provisioning of prey. Prey remains consisted of 33 species and were
compositionally different than prey remains collected prior to ecological changes,
suggesting changes in prey availabilities. Also, provisioning rates were significantly
lower than Bald Eagles in other North American regions and declined throughout the
breeding season. Our results suggest that prey availabilities has affected the food habits
of breeding Bald Eagles in Florida Bay, which may be contributing to their decline.
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