I’m really happy to share that Western Confluence Magazine has published Flight Interrupted: Biologist works to protect eagles on collision course with wind power. This was the piece that I wrote based on spending a day trapping golden eagles in Wyoming with Mike Lockhart. You’ll have to head over to Western Confluence to read the article (and subscribe while you are there!) But I wanted to share some more details and behind the scenes here.
Mike Lockhart is a biologist based in Laramie Wyoming who has studied and worked with eagles since 1972. Currently he works with a lure eagle whose wing was broken in the past. Do you see in the photo how her wings aren’t symmetrical? She can’t fly anymore, but she works with Mike to tempt wild goldens to investigate the bait and trap that Mike sets up nearby.
Mike is tracking the movements of golden eagles, especially around wind turbines. Golden and bald eagles have a tendency to collide with these huge turbines, and that’s a real problem as wind energy increases to combat climate change.
On the day my father and I rode with Mike, he wasn’t able to capture an eagle. But he shared these photos that show how he checks the plumage and health of an eagle. In the photo below you can see the small solar-powered tracking device high up between the eagle’s wings.
I learned so much spending the day with Mike! He is a very generous person, and passionate about protecting eagles and their habitat. I hope you are able to head over to Western Confluence to read the article to find out about this important issue.
At the end of the day, I was able to hold Mike’s eagle! She is pretty heavy- I was only able to support her like this for less than a minute before I had to use my other hand to help hold up my arm.
This beautiful eagle made a huge impression on me. Her large, sharp, hooked beak so close to my face was unsettling. But Mike says that golden eagles, even in the wild, are usually pretty calm when handled, and she is definitely used to being handled. Her feathers are soft- she doesn’t mind being stroked on the chest. Her eyes are really bright and intelligent! And those feet and claws, oh my!!
I knew I wanted to make a large black and white linocut of a golden eagle after having had the good fortune to be able to hold Mike’s eagle. I loved carving all of the feather details. I hope my print has some of the majesty of these beautiful raptors!
