Golden Eagle was added to the LBRC Review List on 25 Apr 1986.
Number of accepted Golden Eagle records for Louisiana = 49 as of 25th Report of the LBRC (2022)
One sex unknown (1973-05) on 13 February 1973, Concordia: near Ferriday; Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries (skeleton, LSUMZ 77760, ph: p. 6).
One immature (1986-30; formerly 89-68) on 26 Nov. 1986, Jefferson Davis: 6 mi. south of Welsh on Hwy. 99. The bird was found injured by William Evans, brought to LSUMNS, and then transferred to the Raptor Rehabilitation Unit (RRU) at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. The bird was rehabilitated and released by Donna L. Dittmann, Mike Flynn, and other RRU staff on 1 May 1987 at Lacassine NWR. Photographs of the bird were published in the State Times, Morning Advocate Sunday Magazine, and television spots were carried in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles.
One immature (1987-35; formerly 89-94) on 30 Dec. 1987, Tensas: Tensas River NWR, large open field (managed for waterfowl) at S end of parish; Robert B. Hamilton (AB 42(4):549,947).
One immature (1988-54; formerly 89-50) on 4 Oct. 1988, Cameron: Willow Island, 7 mi. E Cameron; Donna L. Dittmann & Steven W. Cardiff (AB 43(1): 117).
One immature (1991-34) on 5 Oct 1991, Cameron: East Jetty at mouth Calcasieu Pass; Joseph P. Kleiman; AB46(1):105.
One immature (1991-38) on 25 Oct. 1991, Jefferson Davis: Hwy. 99 about 5 mi. N of Hwy. 14 (just S of Bayou Chene); Gwen B. and Alfred E. Smalley, and Joseph Feldner (ph) (AB 46(1):104; LOS 147).
One immature (1992-17) on 8 Feb. 1992, Jefferson Davis: Hwy. 99 just S of Hwy. 380; John P. Sevenair (drawing) (AB 46(2):276).
One immature (1992-07) on 8 Feb 1992, Jefferson Davis: near intersection of Hwys. 99 and 14; Joseph P. Kleiman. This record and previously accepted records 91-38, 92-01, and 92-17 (Dittmann et al. 1998) may all pertain to a single individual present in this area during late 1991-early 1992.
One immature (92-01) on 16 Feb. 1992, Jefferson Davis: intersection of Hwy. 99 and Hwy. 1126, a few miles S of Welsh; Phillip A. Wallace (ph), and Curtis C. Sorrells (AB 46(2):276). Records 92-17 and 92-01 were about six miles apart but may pertain to the same individual; these records were reported as a single record spanning 8-16 Feb. in AB 46(2):276.
One immature (1993-04) on 13 Feb 1993, Rapides: 4 mi. N of Cheneyville; Roger J. Breedlove and Cecil C. Kersting.
One adult (1998-114) on 12 Dec 1998, Caddo: Port of Shreveport, Red River mile 213; Paul M. Dickson. This and LBRC record no. 1998-113 likely pertain to the same individual.
One immature (1993-88) on 7 Feb 1993, Cameron: 1 mi. S of Hwy. 717, near Shot�s Hunting Club turnoff [extreme NE corner of parish]; John P. Sevenair.
One immature (1993-89) on 23 Oct 1993, Cameron: Lacassine Pool, Lacassine NWR, then N to Calcasieu Par. line on Hwy. 14 between Lacassine Pool turnoff and the town of Hayes; Donna L. Dittmann and Steven W. Cardiff (ph; card only).
One immature male (1994-111) found injured sometime in Oct 1994, Calcasieu: just outside Lake Charles; Times Picayune (ph; Wed., 21 Dec 1994). The injured bird was found by a motorist and brought to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries officials, who transferred the eagle to Audubon Park Zoo Health Care Unit (New Orleans). The bird was successfully rehabilitated and reportedly released N of Lake Charles on 20 Dec 1994; LOS News 162: 3.
One subadult (1994-107) on 28 October 1994, Jefferson Davis: junction of Hwys. 99 and 380/382, south of Welsh and west of Thornwell; Donna L. Dittmann and Steven W. Cardiff.
One (1997-079) on 6 November 1997, Iberville: Hwy. 30 x Bayou Paul Ln., about 3 mi. N St.
Gabriel; Donna L. Dittmann (card only/field sketch and wrote
description on card) and Steven W. Cardiff (card only).
Sketch by Donna L. Dittmann
Two adults (1998-06) on 24 Jan 1998, Calcasieu: junction of Hwy. 108 and Fabacher Road;
Daniel F. Lane and Christopher C. Witt (ph only). A single adult on 3 Feb 1998, 1 mi. N of
above location (Joseph P. Kleiman) was considered one of the two adults present in the area
earlier. FN52(2):209 vaguely referred to �one report from one Louisiana parish.�
Photo and sketch by Dan Lane
One adult (1998-113) on 6 Nov 1998, Caddo: 2 mi. NW of Elm Grove, Red River mile 209; Paul M. Dickson.
One adult (1998-114) on 12 Dec 1998, Caddo: Port of Shreveport, Red River mile 213; Paul M. Dickson. This and LBRC record no. 1998-113 likely pertain to the same individual.
One immature (1998-122) on 29 Dec 1998, Cameron, Lacassine NWR, just NW of the [Streeter Road] entrance [NW of headquarters]; B. Mac Myers III. This and the following record, 98-126 possibly pertain to the same individual.
One immature (1998-126) on 29 Dec 1998, Cameron: Lacassine NWR, Coto Plot; Donna L. Dittmann and Steven W. Cardiff. This and 98-122 possibly pertain to the same individual. A general reference to the preceding two records ("quite a few reported from AR, LA, and MS") appeared in NAB 53(2): 174.
One immature (1999-115) on 17 Dec 1999, Jefferson Davis: first observed just E of Hwy. 382 on Mouton Road, NNE of Thornwell (DLD), then bird gradually moved SW and was observed N of Thornwell and W of Hwy. 382 (KVR), and finally seen SSW of Thornwell (by Darren Clark); Donna L. Dittmann, Kenneth V. Rosenberg (ph).
One adult (2000-42) on 9 Nov 2000, Caddo: 2 mi. NW Elm Grove, Red River mile 209; Paul M. Dickson.
One immature (2000-65) on 9 Dec 2000, Cameron: Lacassine NWR; Phillip Wallace (ph); NAB 55(2): 180.
One (2001-063) on 17 November 2001, Jefferson Davis: Faul Rd.,
about 1 mi. E Welsh Landfill; David P. Muth (sketch) and Paul E.
Conover. An additional report was added by Conover following the
third circulation. Conover recounted the observation. All Members believed that the added
report helped support the documentation to carry this record over the threshold and voted to
accept.
Sketch by David P. Muth
One (2001-103) on 9 December 2001, Morehouse: Upper Ouachita NWR, Mollicy Unit; Malcolm Mark Swan (ph only). Published in NAB 56(2):184.
One immature (2001-047) on 14 December 2001, Jefferson Davis: Goose Island Road, about 2 ½ mi. S of Hwy. 14; John P. Sevenair (sketch)
Two immatures (2001-046) on 14 December 2001, Cameron: Lacassine NWR, Pool Unit; Joseph P. Kleiman. This record appears in NAB 56(2):184.
One immature (2002-53) on 16 Nov 2002, Cameron: east of Rutherford Beach, along beach front; Daniel F. Lane (ph); NAB57(1):73 vaguely refers to one individual in Louisiana.
Two adults (male and female; 2004-24) on 24 January 2004, Morehouse: Mollicy Wildlife Management Area,
Rosemary Seidler
(ph)
. Reportedly a stake out for the winter LOS meeting and also reportedly seen the 23rd; Refuge manager led all field trips right to it.
Photo by Rosemary Seidler
One (2011-01) on 3 January 2011, Pointe Coupee: Morganza; Javier G. Nevarez (ph on p. 7) fide Jennifer Coulson. Injured bird picked up by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries personnel and delivered to the LSU School of Veterinary.
One immature (2011-03) on 1 March 2011, Union: Upper Ouachita NWR;
Stephen Pagans
(ph).
Photo by Stephen Pagans
One adult (2012-020) on 6 February 2012, Calcasieu:
W of Illinois Plant Road between Hwy. 14 and Cameron Parish
line; Donna L. Dittmann (ph) and Steven W. Cardiff.
Photo by Donna L. Dittmann
One adult (2013-095) on 28 December 2013, Morehouse: Upper Ouachita NWR, Mollicy Unit;
John Dillon
(ph) and
Tim Keyes.
Photo by John Dillon
One immature (2015-016) on 2-28 February 2015, Morehouse: Upper Ouachita NWR, Mollicy Unit;
Jeff Barnhill
(ph).
Although as many as four were reported, Members did not believe evidence provided with the
report was adequate to support acceptance of more than one individual.
Photo by Jeff Barnhill
One immature (2015-005) on 4 February 2015, Morehouse: Upper Ouachita NWR, Mollicy Unit;
Gypsy Hanks
(ph taken by automated camera at bait station).
Photo by Gypsy Hanks
One immature (2018-023) on 17 March 2018, Morehouse: Between Mer Rouge and Bonita;
Jeff Barnhill
(ph).
Photo by Jeff Barnhill
One (2018-065) on 21 October 2018, Red River: Mansfield, 2617-2871 Hwy. 1, N 32.127 o, W93.479 o;
Chris Merritt (ph).
Photo by Chris Merritt
Two immatures (2019-049) on 2 November 2019, Cameron: vicinity of
Willow Island, 7 mi. E Cameron; Paul E. Conover (ph) and Oscar Johnson (ph). eBird checklist: https://eBird.org/checklist/S61179992.
Photo by Oscar Johnson
One immature (2019-079) on 2 November 2019, Cameron: Peveto Woods Sanctuary; Daniel F. Lane and Ned
Brinkley (ph only, see https://eBird.org/checklist/S61134527). This may be one of same individuals seen about an
hour earlier and 23 mi. E at Willow Island.
Photo by Ned
Brinkley
One immature (2019-056) on 3 November 2019, Cameron: Willow Island, 7 mi. E Cameron; Oscar Johnson
(ph). See also https://eBird.org/checklist/S61165244. Possibly one of two individuals seen at same locality previous
day.
Photo by Oscar Johnson
One (2020-023) on 24 January 2020, Morehouse: Upper Ouachita NWR, Mollicy Unit, Shop Road; Jeff
Barnhill (ph).
Photo by Jeff
Barnhill
One immature (2020-057) on 30 November 2020, East Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, 2028 Ovid St.; Daniel F. Lane
(ph; https://ebird.org/checklist/S76900764).
Photo by Daniel F. Lane
One adult (2021-028) on 21 February 2021, Richland: Kennedy Rice Farm; Stephen L. Pagans (ph; https://
ebird.org/checklist/S82537069).
Photo by Stephen L. Pagans
One immature (2021-081) on 17 December 2021, Madison: Greenlea Bend Wildlife Drive off Quebec Rd. at Tensas River NWR (ca. 1.5 miles from origin of road at visitor center/ headquarters bldg.); Devin Bosler.
One second year (2022-001) on 23 January 2022, Richland: Kennedy Rice Farm; John Dillon (ph).
Photo by John Dillon
One immature (2022-006) on 10 February 2022, Vermilion: White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area, Birding & Nature
Trail, N29.919661o W92.523484o; William H. Matthews (ph).
Photo by William H. Matthews
One immature (2022-018) on 2 March 2022, Vernon: Kisatchie NF Vernon Unit; Kori Legleu-Buxton (ph from trail
camera).
Photo by Kori Legleu-Buxton
One (1989-150) on 10 Nov. 1989, Avoyelles: near Long's Lake. The description was very superficial. All members felt that Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was not eliminated from consideration because the observer described the chest as being a "dirty gray mottled color." This feature is commonly possessed by sub-adult Bald Eagles.
One immature (1989-31; formerly 90-31) on 10 Nov. 1989, LaSalle: White Hall Plantation, approximately 25 mi. from Catahoula Lake, 0.5 mi. from intersection of Hwys. 84 and 460. The bird was seen in flight from above by an observer in a small plane. The description, by an observer apparently familiar with Golden Eagle, although suggestive of this species, was inadequate to eliminate similar species.
One adult (1991-65) on 26 Oct 1991, Orleans: Bayou Sauvage NWR, 2 mi. S of Irish Bayou. Although most members believed that this bird might have been correctly identified, the details were considered too brief to warrant acceptance. The bird was apparently videotaped, but the observer reported that distinguishing features were not visible on the tape.
One adult (1992-77) on 2 Jan 1992, Tensas: Tensas River NWR, Spring Bayou. Most members believed that the bird was probably correctly identified, but the description did not include enough detail to decisively eliminate other superficially similar raptor species.
One adult (1992-16) on 5 Jan. 1992, Madison: Tensas River NWR, Spring Bayou (next to McLemore tract). The observer provided only a very brief description, and all Members were in agreement that the supporting details were insufficient to support the identification of this species.
One immature (1993-03) on 30 Jan 1993, Calcasieu: 20 mi. N of Lake Charles on Edgewood Road. This bird was reportedly seen by a number of observers, but only one submitted a report. The bird was distant, the observation brief, and the description was, not too surprisingly, relatively superficial. Members could not justify accepting this record based on the limited information provided.
One (1993-047) on 3 March 1993, East Feliciana: N of Clinton, W of Hwy. 67 (card only). Although the nape was described as golden and the raptor�s size as large, most Members did not consider the details provided on the card as adequate to support the identification.
One adult (1995-29) on 2 Jan 1995, Bossier-Caddo-Bienville CBC; NASFN49(2):156. The description provided did not eliminate an immature Bald Eagle.
One immature (1995-31) on 2 Jan 1995, Bossier: 0.7 mi. E of Poole. The Committee agreed that the description was too superficial to support identification of this species.
One immature (1998-038) on 10 and 27 January 1998, Rapides: 1.5 mi. N of Cheneyville, near intersection of Bayou Rd. and Echo-Cheneyville Rd. The description was suggestive but too superficial to decisively eliminate Bald Eagle.
One adult (1999-131) on 20 February 1999, Rapides: Echo-Cheneyville Rd. at Wemples Farm. This was a record submitted recently to eBird, flagged, then submitted to the LBRC for review. The record is solely based on observer�s memory ten years after the observation. However proficient the observer may be at raptor identification, the description did not eliminate Bald Eagle. We do appreciate that the observer took time to submit this record to the LBRC archives.
One (2001-064) on 14 December 2001, Jefferson Davis: near Thornwell, W. Niblett Road, about 1/5 mi. E Clyde Road. Description, and notably the reference to “massive yellow bill and straw-colored legs” better supported identification as a Bald Eagle.
One adult (2002-057) on 16 December 2002, Cameron: Goose Island. Observers were experienced and most likely the ID was correct. But, the circumstances were problematic and the description was ultimately determined to be too superficial.
One immature (2014-105) on 27 December 2014, Morehouse: Upper Ouachita NWR, Mollicy unit (ph). The photos provided better supported identification as a Bald Eagle.
One immature (2016-068) on 6 December 2016, Jefferson Davis: near Thornwell, just S intersection of Hwy. 14 X Hwy 99. All Members believed that the observation was so brief that observer was unable to describe or confirm a combination of diagnostic characters that would eliminate Bald Eagle.
One adult (2017-010) on 20 March 2017, Jefferson: Marrero. As noted on the report form, the observer was not 100% confident of the identification because the tail was not well seen. The report of golden coloration on the hackles could have been an artifact of the light. All Members agreed that an early spring Golden Eagle in southeast Louisiana would have required more robust documentation.
One immature (2018-067) on 31 October 2018, Cameron: Lacassine NWR Pool Unit, W of intersection of Illinois Plant Rd. All Members agreed that the observer did not rule out immature Bald Eagle and did not provide enough diagnostic evidence to support Golden Eagle.
One adult (2019-080) on 28 December 2019, St. Landry: Hwy. 71 near miles and 8. All Members agreed that the naked eye observation of a flyover from a vehicle was not satisfactory. Bald Eagles are far too common and Goldens too rare in the state to accept most Golden records without solid documentation.