The winter eagle count cometh

Posted 8/21/12

As you read this, the 2015 Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey is underway. Coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), this eagle survey is taking place …

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The winter eagle count cometh

Posted

As you read this, the 2015 Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey is underway. Coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), this eagle survey is taking place in most states in the U.S., including New York and PA. This survey takes place during the first two weeks of January, with January 9 to 10 as target dates. It is this time when many Canadian migrant eagles have arrived from their northern breeding grounds in order to forage from ice-free water of the contiguous U. S.

During earlier surveys, most of the eagles counted in our region and others were migrants with relatively few resident breeding eagles. This has changed, however, with the successful bald eagle re-introduction efforts of state wildlife agencies in the 1970s and 1980s. On average, more resident eagles and their offspring are seen with each successive year. The surveys do not reflect the total population of eagles in a given state; many areas are not surveyed. The goal for the mid-winter eagle survey is to observe long-term trends by surveying established routes and using the same methodology from year to year.

Even though the survey title uses the term, “bald eagle survey,” golden eagles are counted as well and are listed as a separate species. Golden eagles migrate as well, but do not breed within the northeast U.S.; they are not often seen in the region. Special emphasis has been placed on obtaining accurate golden eagle counts during the survey, as this species of eagle is susceptible to mortality from wind generation facilities due to their flight habits. The mid-winter survey is a valuable tool in identifying wintering habitat of golden eagles for planning of future wind generation projects.

To see the track of a migrating golden eagle captured and fitted with telemetry by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation during the winter of 2008, go to www.learner.org/jnorth/eagle/spring2008/Update050708.html.

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