Behavioral responses of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) to acoustic stimuli in a laboratory setting

Abstract

In our previous work, auditory function and vocalization acoustics were studied in a cohort of adult and juvenile bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) to guide the development of acoustic deterrence technologies intended to discourage encroachment into wind energy airspaces. Findings from those studies set the stage for an investigation designed to evaluate the efficacy of sound stimuli to elicit behavioral responses from eagles in a laboratory setting. To achieve this goal, a handler positioned individual eagles on a perch in the center of an acoustically damped room equipped with two stationary speakers and a video camera. Stimulus presentation was controlled remotely from outside the study space and initiated after the subject acclimated to the space and remained stationary. Both natural and synthetic stimuli were delivered randomly to one of the speakers. Several volunteers were recruited to assess stimulus-driven behavioral responses from recorded videos. We will report on results of behavioral responses for each stimulus type, as well as habituation to stimuli. Early results are promising and set the stage for exportation of behavioral studies into a more natural environment to evaluate the effects of acoustic stimuli on bald eagles during creance training flights. [Work supported by DOE-EERE (#DE-EE0007881) and LCCMR (#2021-294).]