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The Golden Eagle is generally thought to be a well-known and well-documented species. However, much of the available literature is not necessarily in a form that can readily be used in the field.
In fact, although much existing information about Golden Eagles has little supporting evidence it is still largely accepted without question. A Fieldworker's Guide to the Golden Eagle addresses this important issue and in doing so the author queries numerous long-held beliefs about Golden Eagles. He suggests that failure to recognise the limitations of the available evidence is not only detrimental to understanding eagle ecology but that it can undermine conservation efforts. The Fieldworker's Guide questions the reliability of existing knowledge and promotes a better understanding of the species through improved fieldwork.
With 37 years of active, year-round investigative fieldwork experience of the Golden Eagle, the author has vast knowledge enabling him to shed light on these matters. He has a history of undertaking novel research on post-fledging studies, territories and the impact of changes in land use. In this context he discusses how best to undertake fieldwork to produce objective results, avoiding the influence of expectations and recognising the many pitfalls into which an unwary observer might stumble.
A Fieldworker's Guide to the Golden Eagle objectively reviews all aspects of Golden Eagle ecology, taking examples from many different locations and from sitespecific studies in Scotland to compare and contrast the reliability and relevance of the evidence, highlighting the differences between casual and intensive fieldwork. It reviews all the elements of Golden Eagle ecology, from the species status, through the activities and roles of eagles of different gender, age and status, via territories, food and breeding, to habitat preferences, usage and even the influence of weather and observer activity on behaviour and observations. It also gives due consideration to the failed and non-breeding elements of the population, topics that are widely ignored despite such eagles forming the bulk of the population for most of the year.
To provide a better understanding of what fieldworkers and birdwatchers are likely to encounter, the author reviews the month-by-month activity of all classes of Golden Eagle and the influences that affect how their ecology is understood.
Preface vii
Introduction 1
Golden Eagle fieldwork 5
Meteorological conditions 21
Status 29
Individiual recognition 36
Habitat 44
Territory 56
Food and foraging 82
Breeding 111
General activity 152
Other species 186
A Golden Eagle Almanac 190
In conclusion 229
References 231
Index 235
Dave Walker is the author of the acclaimed Call of the Eagle.
"This book contains lots of insightful information, gathered skilfully and painstakingly over years of patient fieldwork. All aspects of Golden Eagle ecology are covered, with particular detail given on habitat use, territoriality, diet and reproductive behaviour. Adding to the book’s value is the fact that it describes behaviour in all seasons, with knowledge of individual eagles and the landscapes they inhabit built up over the course of many years. Much of this information is presented as anecdote, with concrete observations inter-mingled with speculation about mechanism and function. This does not, in and of itself, undermine the value of this information. A rich source of observations, the book can make readers aware of the range of what is possible, and better equip them to challenge the limits of their own understanding of Golden Eagles.
However, the conjecture around these observations is often presented without sufficient qualification, implying certainty where (from the information presented) this may not be warranted. Moreover, the author misses no opportunity to identify flaws in the work of others who have studied and written about Golden Eagles. While he undoubtedly has many useful points to make about the assumptions of these authors, his criticisms often come across as unduly severe. On a related note, some of the wider conclusions he reaches about the wider literature on Golden Eagles, and the approaches taken and advocated by others to conservation and management, are more negative than is deserved.
Nevertheless, this book remains a valuable addition to the library of those interested in reading about, or carrying out fieldwork on, this magnificent bird."
– Mark Wilson, BTO book reviews
