Counting eagles

The National Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey took place across the nation early in January. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), for its 28th consecutive count, performed most of the survey for New York on January 10 amid scattered snow squalls and windy conditions.

According to Pete Nye of the NYSDEC, preliminary results—from the aerial portion of the survey—show fewer eagles in 2007 than in 2006. This year, there were 97 eagles observed statewide compared with 219 eagles observed along the same routes flown last year. Noteworthy for our region were counts of 55 eagles for the Mongaup region and 20 eagles along the main stem of the Delaware River. Yet to be compiled are the ground-based observations from people in the public and private sectors, of whom there were over 125 last year.

Nye stated that the most likely cause of the decreased count is the mild winter. With warm weather in Canada, there is less need for the eagles to migrate to this region. The NYSDEC has been tracking some migrating eagles with satellite telemetry. Of five winter-captured eagles with still-operating transmitters, all five were still in Canada as of the first week in January. As I write this, single-digit temperatures are forecast for the next 48 hours. This will get some eagles on the move, albeit a little late.

To learn about eagle migration and track them online see learner.org/jnorth/eagle/index.html.