Why Study Raptors?
BRI studies raptors to aid in their conservation and the protection of the habitats and ecosystems in which they reside. Raptors play key ecological roles in the systems in which they feed, therefore an understanding of raptor ecology is an important way of understanding our environment. The history of the catastrophic decline and subsequent recovery in several raptors such as the Bald Eagle, Osprey, and the Peregrine Falcon, are intertwined with the enactment of some of the most important and consequential environmental policies in U.S. history such as the Endangered Species Act, the ban on DDT pesticides and the Clean Water Act.
BRI’s raptor research focuses on informing the management and conservation needs of raptors. Our research emphasizes three nonexclusive areas: (1) contaminants monitoring; (2) movement studies; and (3) population monitoring.
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Bald Eagle Work
BRI’s Raptor Program has a longstanding history of studying Maine’s Bald Eagle populations. From early research on environmental contaminants to long-term population monitoring and movement studies, our work has contributed critical insights into the health and ecology of this iconic species. In collaboration with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BRI has used satellite telemetry to track subadult Bald Eagles, revealing important patterns in dispersal, habitat use, and survival that inform conservation efforts throughout the region.
In addition to movement and population studies, BRI researchers have investigated the impacts of mercury on eagle health and development. By analyzing blood and feather samples, we assess contaminant levels and monitor long-term exposure trends across Maine’s eagle populations. BRI also conducts regular surveys to assess eagle activity and habitat use, including studies of the Sebasticook River’s river herring run, which supports one of the highest seasonal concentrations of Bald Eagles in the Northeast. By combining contaminant research, telemetry, and field observations, BRI and its partners continue to provide the science needed to guide the effective conservation of Bald Eagles throughout their range.
Highlighted Raptors We Study
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Merlin
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Osprey
Raptor Research at BRI
Publications
BRI researchers have joined scientists around the world in a landmark study published in the journal Science that uses three decades of animal tracking data to gather insights about animal responses to changing environmental conditions in the Arctic. The study, titled Ecological insights from three decades of animal movement tracking across a changing Arctic, utilizes and broadly introduces the Arctic Animal Movement Archive (AAMA). The AAMA is an active collection of tracking datasets from researchers across the globe for marine and terrestrial animals in the arctic.
