Golden Eagle Found In Wyo. Tied For Second-Oldest

There is a bird that is held sacred by Wyoming's Native Americans. This is the Eagle. Now it appears that one of the oldest on record has been recently killed. "A golden eagle that was apparently electrocuted near Sheridan was more than 30 years old, which ties the record for second-oldest in the species that has ever been tagged in North America, Wyoming wildlife officials said.The bird's body was found under a utility pole and appeared to be electrocuted by a power line, Wyoming wildlife biologist Tim Thomas said.A small metal band was attached to its leg with identifying numbers that Thomas sent to the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Banding Laboratory.The lab reported the bird had been tagged as a fledgling in 1983 near Gillette. The bird's estimated age was 30 years, 9 months, tying for second place in the lab's longevity records with a Colorado eagle.

The oldest recorded banded eagle was found in Utah in 2012, and was 31 years, 7 months old.Waterfowl with leg bands are often reported when they are harvested by hunters, but reports of banded species are less common, Thomas said."http://www.news-republic.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=1&articleid=21884399