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Statewide Midwinter Bald Eagle Count - FishNews - 01-03-2007
WHAT: Statewide Midwinter Bald Eagle Count
WHEN: January 5 from 8AM-3PM will be a concentrated survey day of major rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the coast by MassWildlife personnel and volunteers across the state. Media are invited to contact designated MassWildlife observers in locations throughout the state.
BACKGROUND: This event is part of a nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey that is held every year in early January. "As usual our long time partner, National Grid, will be assisting in the survey by providing a helicopter for surveying the Quabbin Reservoir area and the Connecticut River," said Dr. Tom French. "For the second year, we are also working with the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission for a helicopter flight over the Merrimack River area." Ground teams will also be covering known eagle territories statewide during the day. In 2006, 52 bald eagles were documented in Massachusetts during the one day event. Anyone spotting an eagle from January 1 through 15 is encouraged to report the sighting by email at Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or by postal service to "Eagle Survey", MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Please provide date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, juvenile or adult, and observer contact information.
The restoration of bald eagles to Massachusetts is a great success story. Eagles had not nested in the state since 1905 in Sandwich and later vanished from much of the country due to loss of habitat and DDT pesticides. MassWildlife along with many other conservation minded partners began the restoration effort in 1982 after eagles were discovered wintering in the Quabbin Reservoir area. From 1982 -1988, young eaglet chicks were transported from wild nests, primarily from Canada to be raised in cages overlooking the reservoir. When the birds were old enough to fly, the cage doors were opened and the birds were free to fly. This method, called hacking, assures that the young birds would view the area as their home base. The hope was that when grown, the eagles would choose the Quabbin area to nest. This occurred, with the first successful fledging of 3 eaglets at Quabbin in 1989. Since that time, eagle nesting activity has spread to at least 25 known nesting territories in the state. The nesting birds are descended from the original hacked eaglets as well as descendants of hacked birds from neighboring states.
Eagle restoration efforts were funded through several sources; major funding came from the former Bank of Boston and hunting and fishing license fees (Inland Fish & Game Fund), the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund, as well as support from National Grid, federal aid from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
The following observers will be available in different regions of the state to talk with media about the eagle count. Media should dress for weather conditions and wear warm, sturdy footgear.
Berkshires: Tony Gola, DFW Wildlife Biologist - Contact him Wednesday or Thursday of this week before the eagle count day to make meeting arrangements either in the southern Berkshires or in the Pittsfield area. Pittsfield office: 413/447-9789
Conn. Valley: Marion Larson, DFW Information and Education Biologist-Will be at the Quabbin Reservoir's Enfield Lookout from 8AM-1:30 PM. Media invited to visit with her on site. Heliocopter flight overhead will be sometime around 8:30-9 AM weather permitting. Cell phone contact that day: 508/330-2154
Worcester County: Bridgett McAlice, DFW District Wildlife Biologist. She will be surveying the Wachusett Reservoir and may get reports from other observers in Worcester County. Cell phone is 508/344-3044.
Merrimack River, Newburyport: Erik Amati, DFW District Wildlife Biologist. He will be part of the ground crew covering the Merrimack River area. He will be available to speak to interested media at around 2 PM or so at the Newburyport Harbor Boat Launch area on the Merrimack River. Cell phone will be: 978/621-8432
Lakeville: Kathleen (Betty) Anderson, Chair, MassWildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee. She will be at Long Point Road on the causeway between Pocksha Pond and Great Quitticas Pond in Lakeville. Cell Phone is 508/947-0218
Background: This event is part of a nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey that is held every year in early January. "As usual our long time partner, National Grid, will be assisting in the survey by providing a helicopter for surveying the Quabbin Reservoir area and the Connecticut River," said Dr. Tom French. "For the second year, we are also working with the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission for a helicopter flight over the Merrimack River area." Ground teams will also be covering known eagle territories statewide during the day. In 2006, 52 bald eagles were documented in Massachusetts during the one day event. Anyone spotting an eagle from January 1 through 15 is encouraged to report the sighting by email at Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or by postal service to "Eagle Survey", MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Please provide date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, juvenile or adult, and observer contact information.
The restoration of bald eagles to Massachusetts is a great success story. Eagles had not nested in the state since 1905 in Sandwich and later vanished from much of the country due to loss of habitat and DDT pesticides. MassWildlife along with many other conservation minded partners began the restoration effort in 1982 after eagles were discovered wintering in the Quabbin Reservoir area. From 1982 -1988, young eaglet chicks were transported from wild nests, primarily from Canada to be raised in cages overlooking the reservoir. When the birds were old enough to fly, the cage doors were opened and the birds were free to fly. This method, called hacking, assures that the young birds would view the area as their home base. The hope was that when grown, the eagles would choose the Quabbin area to nest. This occurred, with the first successful fledging of 3 eaglets at Quabbin in 1989. Since that time, eagle nesting activity has spread to at least 25 known nesting territories in the state. The nesting birds are descended from the original hacked eaglets as well as descendants of hacked birds from neighboring states.
Eagle restoration efforts were funded through several sources; major funding came from the former Bank of Boston and hunting and fishing license fees (Inland Fish & Game Fund), the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund, as well as support from National Grid, federal aid from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Inclement Weather Postponement-Tom French reminds all that if the weather is really bad, the survey will be postponed to next Friday, January 12. To find out if the survey has been postponed, contact Tom French's voice mail on Friday morning at 508/792-7270 x163.
A fact sheet about Eagle Restoration in Massachusetts is attached. For more information, contact Tom French at 508/792-7270 x163.