The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced that 336 bald eagles and two golden eagles were counted in Maryland's annual mid-winter bald eagle survey. This is a record number of eagles observed, during one-day surveys in January, at the State's three main winter concentration areas. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge staff and volunteers counted 99 eagles, including two golden eagles. One hundred eighty-eight bald eagles were counted at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) and 51 bald eagles were counted along the Susquehanna River by APG staff.
"The number of eagles counted during this survey is the highest in Maryland since the survey was initiated in 1979," reported Glenn Therres, DNR's bald eagle biologist and coordinator of Maryland's count. "There are many more bald eagles wintering in Maryland than were counted during the survey, since the mid-winter count is conducted only at the concentration areas." As a result,most of the State's nesting bald eagles are not counted during this survey. Last year, 270 pairs of bald eagles nested throughout the tidal portions of Maryland and along the Potomac River as far west as Washington County. During January,the nesting pairs are already back at their nest sites preparing for the breeding season.
"Given the combination of wintering eagles at the concentration areas, the nesting pairs at their nest sites, and the other eagles roaming the tidal areas of Maryland, there are well over a thousand eagles in Maryland this winter," explains Therres. "Where there is open, tidal water in and around the Chesapeake Bay, there is a decent chance of seeing an eagle."
Adult bald eagles are large birds with wingspans of six to eight feet. They have dark brownish-black bodies with white heads and tails. Immature bald eagles are the same size as adults, but have no white heads or tails. They are dark brownish-black in color and may have white mottling on their breasts and under the wings. Golden eagles are rare in Maryland. They are golden brown in color; the immatures have a white band at the base of their tail.
In Maryland, the mid-winter eagle survey is a cooperative effort between DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army. The survey
Posted: 2-15-2001
