Golden eagles in Toronto?

[dawnofthewolf]

Have there been any sightings of golden eagles in the Toronto area or southern Ontario,  how close do they nest to Toronto, where are there significant populations in Eastern Canada and the Eastern US and how come they are less prevalent than bald eagles there?

[cosmo3667]

don't know about them nesting in the Toronto area but every year at the Rosetta McClain Raptor watch we see them migrating south

[Trillian Flummox]

The Ministry of Natural Resources classifies Golden Eagles as Endangered in Ontario, whereas Bald Eagles are listed as a species of "Special Concern" only. I believe the Ontario range for Golden Eagles is somewhere above Thunder Bay. Your best hope is to see them during fall migration at one of the raptor watches.

-kris

[thouc]

In Ontario they only breed close to Hudson Bay. Here is a map of their breeding records from Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario. In North America Golden Eagles breed in the north and the west (the Rockies and other mountain ranges) and are only seen in the east during migration/winter, mainly Oct/Nov.

Recent sightings in Southern Ontario from eBird:

Long Point area: wintering Golden Eagle, several observations, last Mar 26, so it might have departed.
Beamer Raptor Watch: 1 Mar 30, probably your best chance to see one this time of year near GTA.
Burlington: 1 Mar 22
Eastern Ontario (Prince Edward county and eastwards): Several sightings last half of March.

/Thomas

[smartygirl]

I saw a golden eagle in eastern Ontario once (outside of Almonte, west of Ottawa), many years ago. It was incredible.

[BIGFRANK]

We saw 20 Golden  Eagles fly by last fall at the Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch in Scarborough. That is our best season. Photographic opportunities weren't great but, very usable photos were taken. 65 Bald Eagles were also seen. Note this is in the fall, birds return a different  route, along the Niagara escarpment and then they disperse, so there is no concentration going by Rosetta in the spring, although it is a great spot for spring migrants in general.

[BC]

The spring Hawkwatch at Beamer Conservation Area in Grimsby has reported three Golden Eagles so far this season.

[newfoundlander61]

http://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/~/media/Files/PDF/Eagles.pdf