By Lynette Cox
Fourth Golden Eagle Tagged at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum
The public is invited to help name the newly tagged eagle.
Bernheim Forest and Arboretum is pleased to announce the successful addition of a fourth golden eagle to its 11-year tracking project that continues to provide rare insight into the behavior of these elusive apex predators. Researchers believe this newly tagged eagle may be the current partner of Athena, a female golden eagle tracked by Bernheim since 2019 from Kentucky to the Hudson Bay in Canada. The data collected from this project has made important contributions to understanding golden eagles in Bernheim and across North America.
The adult golden eagle, believed to be a male, was captured on January 21, 2026, and fitted with a GPS satellite transmitter that allows researchers to track his movements across wintering, migratory, and summer ranges in the United States and Canada.
“This recent deployment advances Bernheim Forest and Arboretum’s long-term research into the behavior and conservation of eastern golden eagles,” said Andrew Berry, Director of Conservation at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum.
The newly tagged eagle has been observed with Athena multiple times during the winter of 2025–26. Since his capture, the pair has continued to spend time together, often feeding in the same areas, roosting nearby, and vocalizing back and forth suggesting a coordinated relationship.
Public Voting to Name the Golden Eagle
The public is invited to help name the newly tagged golden eagle by visiting Bernheim.org/name-golden-eagle. Bernheim has narrowed the choices to three potential names, including:
- Atlas – Pronunciation: AT-ləs
In Greek mythology, Atlas was the Titan condemned to hold up the sky, symbolizing endurance, strength, and the bearer of burden. It’s a fitting name for a migratory apex predator that carries a transmitter to further our understanding of golden eagles. - Eldred – Pronunciation: EL-dred
From the early tribes of Britain, meaning an old counsel or wise advisor. The name evokes wisdom, experience, and steadiness. These traits are often associated with mature golden eagles, especially those that partner with Athena to hold winter territory. - Gwaihir – Pronunciation: GWY-heer
Named after the eagle from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Gwaihir is known as “the Windlord,” swift, noble, and fiercely loyal as a literary symbol of freedom and heroic rescues.
Voting will end on March 15, 2026, and the name will be announced in Bernheim’s e-newsletter and social media channels.
Read more about golden eagle research at Bernheim and how this newly male is interacting with Athena.
Vote Here: https://bernheim.org/name-golden-eagle/
