By Lynette Cox
The Votes Are In; Golden Eagle’s Name is Gwaihir Bernheim
CLERMONT, KY – March 19, 2026 – Bernheim Forest and Arboretum is pleased to announce the male golden eagle tagged by researchers in January now has a name. The winning name chosen through a public voting contest is Gwaihir Bernheim.
The name, pronounced GWY-heer, is drawn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and evokes bravery, strength, and heroic journeys. More than 3,000 votes were cast in the two-week naming contest with Gwaihir receiving 2,051 votes.
Gwaihir is the fourth golden eagle tagged by researchers at Bernheim. On January 21, 2026, he was captured 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. The 11-year research project provides rare insight into the behavior of these iconic raptors and contributes to conservation efforts to protect the species.
Gwaihir Bernheim’s Unexpected Migration
While at Bernheim, Gwaihir Bernheim was observed interacting with Athena, a female golden eagle tracked by Bernheim since 2019. On February 27, Gwaihir Bernheim lifted off from Bernheim and began his spring migration north. At first his movements followed a pattern researchers have come to expect from golden eagles wintering in the eastern United States. He traveled through Kentucky and into Indiana along a familiar corridor, one used by other tracked birds in years past.
Then something unexpected happened. Instead of continuing north, Gwaihir turned southwest, cutting across southern Indiana into the Shawnee National Forest of Illinois. He crossed the Mississippi River and pushed deeper into the Mark Twain National Forest of Missouri—a move that immediately set him apart. On March 7, he continued to head west, passing through the southern edge of Kansas City, Mo., before continuing across the Great Plains of Kansas and Nebraska.
“Every other golden eagle tagged by the research project has taken a general northward path during spring migration. Gwaihir surprised us by migrating over 500 miles west to Kansas before making a turn northwest,” explained Dr. Tricia Miller, executive director of Conservation Science Global.
By March 16, Gwaihir was last recorded in southeastern Montana, still moving steadily northwest, following a migratory route very few golden eagles from the eastern population are known to take.
“Each new data point adds to a growing understanding of how golden eagles move across the continent, how they form and maintain relationships, and how they adapt to changing landscapes,” explained Andrew Berry, director of conservation at Bernheim.
Berry continued, “Gwaihir Bernheim has shown that each new bird can also upend expectations. His journey is not just a path across a map. It is a reminder that even after years of study, much about these apex predators remains unknown.”
As spring migration continues, researchers and the public will be watching closely.
Bernheim Forest and Arboretum extends its gratitude to the many partners and supporters who make this research possible. Special thanks go to the Beckham Bird Club for its ongoing support of the Bernheim Golden Eagle Project, as well as the Kentucky Audubon Council, Birds of Bernheim supporters, and the many members, volunteers, and donors whose contributions sustain this work.
Read more about Gwaihir’s unexpected migration, the national forests and protected areas he visited on his journey west, and how his migration differs from other tracked golden eagles, including Athena. Learn more about bird research at Bernheim, including the golden eagles.
