A big THANK YOU to all the list subscribers who sent in eagle reports
for the Mid-Winter Eagle Survey. At least 50 individuals contacted me
with sightings. Below is the news release announcing the results of the
annual count.
One thing to please keep in mind--if you reported an eagle but it did
not make the final results it is likely because the eagle was counted in
another county. For example: Hoover Reservoir is located in both
Franklin and Delaware Counties. An individual eagle seen at Hoover
could conceivably be reported from both counties. To avoid inflating
the count the eagle would ultimately be recorded in only one of the two
counties it was observed in. To help differentiate sightings is why we
ask for as much information on where and when an eagle was seen in
addition to information on the age of the bird. If you have specific
questions about any reports you submitted, please contact Mark
Shieldcastle at Crane Creek Research Station (419/898-0960) directly.
Thanks again for everyone's help. If the news release does not copy
correctly into this post, you can also view it online at:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/default/tabid/10778/Default.aspx
Donna Daniel, ODNR, Div. of Wildlife
District One, Columbus
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2008
OHIO MID-WINTER BALD EAGLE SURVEY RECORDS 649 BIRDS
Number is highest ever noted in state during annual count
OAK HARBOR, OH - Observers counted 649birds during the recent Mid-Winter
Bald Eagle Survey - the highest number ever recorded during the event.
The previous record count for bald eagles during this survey was 554 in
2006.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife
conducts the annual study. This year's total included 426 mature and 223
immature birds. Last winter's survey counted 480 bald eagles, including
359 mature and 121 immature birds. Immature bald eagles are those
without completely white heads. They are generally less than 5 years
old.
In 2007, 194 eaglets fledged from 116 nests in Ohio.
"Ohio's bald eagle population continues to expand throughout the state,"
said Mark Shieldcastle, a biologist with the Division of Wildlife. "Last
fall's mild temperatures made eagle viewing excellent this year. Open
water has held Ohio birds, and good weather allowed counters to get out
and locate them."
Bald eagles were observed in 70of Ohio's 88 counties during this year's
survey, conducted January 2-15. Sandusky, Ottawa, Erie, Trumbull and
Wyandot counties, along the western Lake Erie shore, continued to report
the largest number of eagles. Sandusky County had the greatest number of
sightings with 76 birds.
Good concentrations of bald eagles were also sighted around the mouth of
the Sandusky River, and along the Kokosing, Mohican, Scioto, Grand and
Muskingum rivers. The southern-most locations in the state to report
bald eagle sightings were in Brown, Clermont, Scioto and Hamilton
counties along the Ohio River.
State wildlife officials and volunteers conduct the mid-winter survey
each January as part of a national effort coordinated by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. The survey documents trends in wintering
populations of eagles in the lower 48 states, including both the bald
and golden eagles.
Although rarely seen in Ohio, two immature golden eagles were spotted
this year. The number of sightings could increase as the golden eagle
population grows in the eastern Arctic, and as a successful
reintroduction effort in Georgia and Tennessee expands.
The annual eagle assessment includes both a standardized aerial survey
and ground observations.
Eagles were recorded in the following counties: Adams-6, Ashland- 11,
Ashtabula-12, Auglaize- 1, Belmont-2, Brown- 2, Butler- 1, Carroll- 2,
Clark- 1, Clermont- 2, Clinton- 1, Columbiana- 5, Coshocton-13,
Crawford- 8, Cuyahoga-7, Defiance- 4, Delaware-14, Erie- 36, Franklin-
3, Gallia-1, Geauga- 11, Hamilton-3, Hancock- 8, Hardin- 3, Harrison- 6,
Henry- 1, Highland- 7, Hocking- 12, Holmes- 4, Huron- 2, Knox-28, Lake-
7, Lawrence- 1, Licking-5, Logan- 2, Lorain-6, Lucas-20, Mahoning- 13,
Marion- 7, Medina- 4, Meigs- 2, Mercer- 7, Monroe- 3, Morgan- 6, Morrow-
2, Muskingum-13, Noble- 3, Ottawa- 72, Paulding-1, Pickaway- 4, Pike-3,
Portage-9, Preble- 1, Putnam- 2, Richland-7, Ross- 15, Sandusky- 76,
Scioto- 6, Seneca-14, Shelby- 1, Stark- 4, Summit-5, Trumbull-45,
Tuscarawas-6, Union-3, Vinton- 2, Washington- 7, Wayne- 2, Wood-14,
Wyandot- 32.
The state's bald eagle management program is funded by contributions to
the state income tax check-off program for Wildlife Diversity and
Endangered Species and by the sale of Ohio conservation license plates,
including both the bald eagle and cardinal plates. Contributions to the
check-off fund can be made by checking Line 28 on the 2007 state income
tax form. Conservation license plates can be purchased through a deputy
registrar or by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles at
1-888-PLATES3.
Matching federal funds are provided through the State Wildlife Grant
Program for the eagle restoration project and other wildlife diversity
efforts of the Division of Wildlife that target species of greatest
conservation need. Eagle restoration efforts also can be supported by
donations via the Internet at wildohio.com.
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PIpGqQn62bc8H3nz_pJFS1ZjYFD9LD2BfxfEMuHEvQ8q1Z4b9iVzhtdqxwhtJXIK6UY1wWd4
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For Further Information Contact:
Mark Shieldcastle, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(419) 898-0960 x23
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