RECOVERY DISTANCES OF NESTLING BALD EAGLES BANDED IN FLORIDA AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NATAL DISPERSAL AND PHILOPATRY

I Used band recovery data to examine distances between handing and recovery locations for 154 nestling Florida Bald Eagles and discuss the implications for understanding natal dispersal and philopatry in this species. Band recoveries occurred in 2.3 U.S. states and live Canadian provinces between 1931-2005. Recovery distance from the natal nest averaged longer for the youngest age classes (ANOVA: F = 3.59; df = 5, 153; P = 0.005), for individuals banded in earlier decades (F = 1.94; (df = 5, 153; P = 0.093), and for the months of May through October (F = 3.10; df = 12, 153; P < 0.001). Of 35 individuals classed as mature (>= 3.9 yr old when recovered; range 3.9-36.5 yr), 31 were located within Florida, which suggested a strong degree of philopatry to the natal state. Among 21 mature eagles of known sex with known banding and recovery locations in Florida, females, particularly, younger birds, had longer recovery distances (N = 9, mean = 93 km, SE = 22.4) than did males (N = 12, mean = 31 km, SE = 5.3; t = 2.67, df = 19, P = 0.026). The records examined here suggest a high degree of philopatry and relatively short natal dispersal distances, particularly in male Bald Eagles.