Working around Eagles

Bald eagles or golden eagles, or both species, may be living or migrating in the vicinity of work activities and projects.  We provide guidance and recommendations for working around eagles and considering the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Bald Eagle Management Guidelines

The National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines were developed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to advise landowners, land managers, and others who share public and private lands with bald eagles about when and under what circumstances the protective provisions of the Eagle Act may apply to their activities. The Guidelines are intended to help people minimize such impacts to bald eagles, particularly where they may constitute "disturbance" which is prohibited by the Eagle Act.

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National bald eagle management guidelines

These guidelines were developed by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service to advise landowners, land managers and others who share public and private lands with bald eagles about when and under what circumstances the protective provisions of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act may apply to their...

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Golden Eagle Disturbance

brown bird with black and yellow hooked beak and brown feathers looks down on fuzzy white chick in nest
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Golden eagles may be sensitive to the presence and activities of humans and potentially easily disturbed.  The Service has drafted a synthesis of scientific information on human disturbance of golden eagles.

Considering disturbance to golden eagles

Regional Guidelines

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Eagle Nest Buffers in California and Nevada
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended buffers for creating no-disturbance zones around bald and golden eagle nests in California and Nevada.
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Bald Eagle Monitoring Guidelines-Southeastern US

This step-by-step guidance will help you determine if your new or intermittent activity near an eagle nest, including alternate nests, is likely to take or disturb bald eagles (a potential violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act) and measures that you can adopt to avoid that...

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Eagles and Home Construction in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho

If you're constructing homes in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, you can answer a few questions about your project or activity and eagles in the vicinity to self-determine whether or not you should apply for an eagle take permit, or whether you need further technical assistance from the Service.

Pacific Region Decision Tree

Eagle Nest Survey Guidance

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced new guidance regarding eagle nest survey areas. The updated recommendation is to conduct field surveys for eagle nests only within 2 miles around the project footprint. This guidance supersedes the recommendations in the Service's 2013 Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance.

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Updated Eagle Nest Survey Protocol

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues protocols for data collection of eagles nests for eagle incidental take permitting. 

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Memo Regarding Eagle Nest Survey Guidance

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a technical update to eagle nest survey protocols for eagle incidental permitting.

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Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance

The Service developed Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance in 2013, which provides specific in-depth guidance for conserving bald and golden eagles in the course of siting, construction and operation of wind energy facilities

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Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance

This guidance provides specific in-depth guidance for conserving bald and golden eagles in the course of siting, construction and operation of wind energy facilities.

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Do I Need an Eagle Take Permit?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may issue permits for the take, possession, or transportation of bald and golden eagles, as well as their parts, nests, and eggs.

More about Eagle Permits