Night roosts of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) wintering in northern Arizona

Abstract

Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were delisted from threatened or endangered status in 2007 in the conterminous states because of their encouraging comeback throughout most of North America. However the recent court decision on 1 May 2008 forced USFWS to issue a rule to amend the regulations for the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife by designating bald eagles in the Sonoran Desert of central Arizona (also called the 'southwest population') as threatened under the authority of Endangered Species Act of 1973. The southwest population is believed to exist in an ecological setting that is unusual and unique among bald eagle populations. Although it is unknown if the southwest population differs markedly from other bald eagle populations in its genetic characteristics, morphological and behavioral differences suggest that genetic differences may exist.

Citation

Joshi, Prabin K. 2009. Night roosts of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) wintering in northern Arizona. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona University. Thesis. 78 p.