The Impact of Human Activities on Breeding Bald Eagles in North-Central Minnesota

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Abstract
The impacts of human activities and eagle management practices on bald eagle (H. leucocephalus) nesting biology were studied on Chippewa National Forest in north-central Minnesota. Nests built on developed shoreline were farther from water than nest built on undeveloped shoreline (P < 0.05). Nests were farther from houses than random shoreline points (P < 0.02). Breeding eagles flushed at 57-991 m (.chi. = 476 m) at the approach of a pedestrian. A multiple regression model including number of previous disturbances, date, and time of day explained 82% of the variability in flush distance and predicted a maximum flush distance at the first disturbance of 503 m (SE = 131). Unsuccessful nests had no greater frequency of known human activity within 500 m than successful nests (P = 0.27). Fixed-wing aircraft passing 20-200 m from nests did not flush incubating or brooding eagles. Banding young in 1 yr did not reduce the probability of successful nesting the following year (P = 0.35). There was no evidence that, under current management policies, human activities have an important impact on bald eagle reproductive success on the Chippewa National Forest.

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