Natal Dispersal Distance of Golden Eagles in the Southwestern United States

Data on natal dispersal distances (NDDs) of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in North America are needed to define local area populations and inform decisions authorizing take (i.e., injury, death, or disturbance) of the species via federal permit. Sixteen golden eagles (six males, 10 females) tagged with satellite transmitters as ~8-wk-old nestlings in the southwestern United States during 2010-2013 dispersed a mean of 55.3 km (SD = 29.7, median = 64.5), either (1) between their natal nest sites and nests where they first bred (n = three females, all subadults, i.e., in their fourth year of life), or (2) between natal sites and where they permanently settled as adults at least in their fifth year of life but did not necessarily breed (i.e., exhibiting only gross natal dispersal). On average, females dispersed about 50% farther than males; mean NDDs of males and females were 41.2 (90% credible interval = 11.1-75.2) km and 63.8 (44.8-82.6) km, respectively. Median NDDs of males and females were 41.5 km an...