Golden Eagles in Denali

Carol and Mark set up for a climb.

Carol McIntyre of the National Park Service has been conducting research on the Golden Eagles of Denali National Park for 23 years. In July 2009 I joined Carol and her research assistant Mark Paulson as they collected data at nest sites as part of a long-term study of population dynamics in the park. In the photo on the right, Mark sits atop the rock outcropping as Carol climbs up to the nest from below. Visiting eagle’s nests requires long hikes over rugged terrain with heavily-loaded packs and technical climbing skills, but Carol and Mark obviously love the work. Even more than the effort required, though, I was impressed with how much care and consideration they give to the welfare of the birds!

In the following photo, Mark has joined Carol in the nest and is shown carefully transferring a chick to Carol. They estimated this chick to be about 6-7 weeks old.

Mark transfers a chick to Carol.

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At right is a photo taken of the two chicks that occupied this nest. Golden Eagle nests typically measure anywhere from about 2 to 5 feet in diameter. Over time the nest accumulates carcasses and some feces, so you can imagine the smell! The remains of snowshoe hare, ground squirrels, willow ptarmigan, and even a newborn dall sheep indicated what the eaglets had been feeding on. As they get older, the eaglets back up to the edge of the nest and project their waste over the edge. In the top photo you can see all of the accumulated white guano on the rocks below the nest.

This was one of the best experiences of my life! I spent a good part of my summer breaking in my hiking boots and getting in shape which was fun in itself, but then I got to spend three days hiking in Denali with Carol and Mark who educated me about the birds, mammals, wildflowers, and ecology of the park.

Karin Franzen on Cathedral Mountain