River's Wintering Bald Eagles Second Most In State

The number of wintering bald eagles in New York State is reaching an all-time high and the St. Lawrence River area holds the second-highest number of the birds during a winter survey, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Blanche Town, a DEC fish and wildlife technician III, based in Potsdam, reported in Sunday's Advance News that an aerial survey by helicopter on Jan. 14, as part of the annual National Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey, saw a total of 101 bald eagles on the St. Lawrence River between Cape Vincent and Massena on both the U.S and Canadian sides, a new record.

The St. Lawrence River numbers are second only to the Hudson and Delaware regions that saw 277 eagles. As of Jan. 31, 459 eagles had been sighted throughout New York, a pace well ahead of the 2008 record of 573. New York's survey efforts are part of a national initiative that monitors the locations and numbers of bald eagles wintering in the lower 48 states.

Preliminary results indicate that the bald eagle population may be at an all-time high since the state began its repopulation efforts more than 30 years ago, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced.

"The resurgence of the bald eagle has been one of New York's most amazing environmental success stories," Mr. Grannis said in a statement. "This has been due to the tremendous commitment of many DEC staff over the past three decades and the ongoing cooperation of individuals and communities that recognize the importance of protecting essential habitat bald eagles need to thrive."

DEC's preliminary results for 2010 indicate that sightings may exceed this number as regions of the state continue to provide a favorable wintering habitat for both New York resident eagles and for Canadian visitors.

The numbers of bald eagles seen on the St. Lawrence River swell during the winter months as the lakes and rivers in Canada freeze, forcing nesting bald eagles to travel to waters that are open so they can feed.

Ms. Town said that bald eagles are opportunistic feeders, eating muskrats, ducks, deer, even roadkill. However, their primary source of food are fish. The open water of the St. Lawrence River helps them survive the winter months.

At the start of the survey in early January, DEC works with the New York State Police Aviation Unit to conduct aerial observations of the state's largest known wintering habitats. This information is supplemented with reports from dozens of volunteers throughout the state who are on-the-ground and report their observations to DEC.

The midwinter surveys have shown a trend of increased numbers of bald eagles, a good sign compared to the mid-70s when the population was decimated by pesticides like DDT and other environmental and man-made issues.

In 1975, DEC officials say that they could only document one, unproductive pair of eagles due to habitat loss, indiscriminate killing and DDT contamination and that year, DEC launched its effort to restore bald eagles to New York.

In 1979, less than 10 eagles were seen. According to survey results provided by DEC, that number spiked to over 20 in 1986 then fell back below 10.

The biggest spike came in 2001 when there were over 60 eagles reported, compared to 20 in 2000 on the river.

One of the reasons for the spikes, according to Ms. Town, is weather.

Adult migrating birds won't build nests during their stays on the St. Lawrence, according to Ms. Town. She says that they will open roost in hardwood trees and then seek mature white pines to provide shelter during bad wintry weather.

More information about bald eagles in New York State can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7068.html .