It is very rare to see one golden eagle in Maine, let alone two as you will observe in this video footage from frequent Outdoors contributor Allie Ladd.
The second eagle is the one that starts a squabble. There is just a glimpse of it, but still it’s impressive.
Golden eagle sightings are much less frequent in Maine than those of bald eagles. Golden eagle nesting pairs haven’t been tracked here since 1997, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The raptors have been considered endangered in the state since 1986, and remain a species of greatest conservation need in the Maine Wildlife Action Plan, according to the state.
Maine takes part in the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group and Conservation Science Global, which both are studying the birds in eastern North America in particular. Western golden eagles are genetically distinct from their eastern counterparts, MDIF&W said.
The state also launched the Maine Golden Eagle Study, which uses community science to document sightings and movements of the birds that live in Maine and travel through it in the birds’ migratory corridor. This information feeds into the two international projects.
It’s difficult to tell a golden eagle from an immature bald eagle, but the best hint for doing so is to look at the bird’s legs. Golden eagles have feather “stockings” all the way down to their feet. Bald eagles do not. There are other ways to tell them apart too, including white markings under the wings of an immature golden eagle.
