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. This
book addresses this important issue and in doing so the author queries
numerous long-held beliefs about Golden Eagles. He suggests that failure
to recognize 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 recognizing the many pitfalls
into which an unwary observer might stumble. The book objectively
reviews all aspects of Golden Eagle ecology, taking examples from many
different locations and from site-specific 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 behavior 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.
