NONGAME BRANCH NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
From February 2002 NewsletterArizona Game and Fish Department 45 Bald Eagle Breeding Areas Statewide The Arizona Bald Eagle Nest Survey discovered its 45th breeding area. Since 1998, we have discovered six new breeding areas, four in the last two years. Our newest breeding areas are:
2002 Bald Eagle Breeding Season Underway It seems we complete one bald eagle breeding season, and just around the corner, another begins. The 2002 bald eagle breeding season is well underway, with 24 of our 39 breeding pairs already active. Five have hatched young. Here is where we currently stand: Incubating Nestlings The Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program Starts Year 24 On February 6, 2002, twenty contractors from around the nation converged on Phoenix to take part in the Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program's 24th field season. At the end of a two-day Orientation Session, the contractors were placed at high use recreation areas around Arizona. These contractors come from many states, and have an array of different experiences and backgrounds. Bald Eagle Winter Count Yields Odd Concentration During the first few weeks in January, the Arizona Game and Fish Department coordinates a statewide bald eagle winter count. The use of helicopters to survey the remote canyons of the Salt and Verde rivers, in addition to a large volunteer ground support by various federal, state, local agencies, and Native American tribes, helps us perform 88 percent of the 115 standardized surveys routes, and count an average 312 bald eagles annually. Normally, bald eagles follow the frost line and migrating waterfowl south. Since this winter was mild, we expected the wintering population to be dispersed across the state. However, we found 105 bald eagles on the lower Black River, nearly one-third of Arizona's normal wintering population in an area where the highest previous concentration was 31 bald eagles in 1999, and averages 18 birds. Results from this year's survey are still returning. We should have them compiled and entered by April. From March 2002 Newsletter Another Bald Eagle Breeding Area For Arizona! It has been confirmed, and yes, another pair of bald eagles has chosen Arizona as its home. The 46th bald eagle breeding area statewide and the third new one discovered this year, was found early this month on the lower Verde River. The historical Needle Rock Breeding Area became reoccupied when a 1998 Tonto nestling (female) and a single-banded adult male were observed in a sycamore tree nest. This increases the number of pairs along the lower Verde River below Bartlett Dam to eight. Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program contractors are monitoring the site. 2002 Bald Eagle Breeding Season Update Our March Occupancy and Reproductive Flights are complete. We have found new breeding areas and new alternate nests, and we have documented hatching at many nests. Of 40 occupied breeding areas, 33 pairs laid eggs, 9 are incubating, and 20 have hatched 32+ young. Below is a productivity update: Incubating Hatched/Nestlings
Failed Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatchers On The Move Due to recent nest failures, contractors for the Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program have been moved to other areas with high recreation pressures. The Lynx Lake nestwatchers, Leah Gibala and Fletcher Smith, were moved to the newly reoccupied Needle Rock Breeding Area on March 1, 2002. The Bartlett nestwatchers, Ty Wivell and Deborah Kendall, were moved to the Ladders Breeding Area on March 22, 2002. Two Bald Eagle Nestlings Rescued In 1984, the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee developed a Rescue Team to intervene if a bald eagle was discovered in a life-threatening situation. Over the years, the Rescue Team has intervened and helped rescue nearly 60 bald eagles. In late March, the Arizona Bald Eagle Management Program began banding this year's nestlings as a part of its annual inventory and monitoring of the population. On our first climb, we discovered one of the Sycamore nestlings had a broken leg. The nestling was examined by Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation, which also discovered a broken pelvic bone. The nestling had surgery the following day to fix the fractures, and is expected to be returned to the wild within three weeks. On the third climb, one of the Box Bar nestlings was discovered with a crossed bill and a disfigured right eye. The prognosis for the nestling's return to the wild is not very good, although the veterinarians at Liberty are examining all options for corrective surgery. From April 2002 Newsletter More Rescued Bald Eagles The Bald Eagle project has, once again, helped save the lives of nestling bald eagles. On April 17, biologists entered the Box Bar nest to place a satellite transmitter on the nestling. They discovered the bird entangled in monofilament fishing line. The line was wrapped around the nestling's leg, cutting off circulation. Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program contractors monitoring the site were on their days off when the monofilament entangled the nestling. On April 28, a second nestling was discovered in the Sheep breeding area, emaciated and dehydrated. This nestling was taken to Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation, which hydrated and fed the nine week old bird. The nestling was replaced into the nest on April 30, after receiving a clean bill of health. Bald Eagle Population Increases Again It's hard to believe, but the Arizona Bald Eagle Management Program has discovered the state's 47th bald eagle breeding area, along Oak Creek, near Cottonwood. The new nest was discovered following public reports of bald eagles in the area. The fourth new area discovered this year, the Oak Creek pair increases Arizona's breeding population of bald eagles to 43 pairs. 2002 Bald Eagle Breeding Season Update Our April Occupancy and Reproductive Flights are complete, and we are nearing the end of the breeding season. Of 41 occupied breeding areas, 34 pairs laid eggs, 1 is still incubating, 8 have failed, 26 pairs hatched 44+ young, and 6 have fledged. Incubating Rock Creek - Nest 1 Hatched/Nestlings Failed Successful Stepping Up To Conserve Bald Eagles Private organizations and Native American Tribes have been involved in Arizona bald eagle conservation ever since formation of the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee (SWBEMC) in 1984. Asking little in return, these groups have provided resources and funding essential to helping Arizona's population recover to the record levels we know today. We deeply appreciate their past, current, and future support. Salt River Project, a private utility company, has been a member of the SWBEMC since 1984 and each year provides funding and helicopter support. Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, a Native American Tribe, has been a member of the SWBEMC since 1984, provides nestwatcher funding each year. Arizona Public Service, a private utility company, has been a member of the SWBEMC since 1998, and provides annual funding and helicopter support. Verde Canyon Railroad, a private recreation company, has been a cooperator in the program since 1993, and provides funding and logistical support. Mexico Bald Eagles ? Yes, America's National Symbol does occur in Mexico! Since the mid-1980s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been monitoring bald eagle productivity and banding nestlings in northern Mexico. In late March 2002, a banded bald eagle was discovered entangled in monofilament near the shores of El Novillo Reservoir. Investigation revealed the bird was banded as a nestling near Horseshoe Dam in 1988, when it was also fitted with a radio transmitter. Later, the young bird was tracked to Manitoba, Canada. Now it has been found again, in Mexico. Villagers untangled the bird, removed its transmitter, fed it for a few days to help it regain its strength, and then released it at the reservoir. Plans are underway to determine if this adult is breeding on the reservoir, or just a winter visitor. From June 2002 Newsletter Efforts Of The ABENWP And Rescue Team Vital To Record Bald Eagle Year The Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program, and the expertise of the AGFD Bald Eagle Rescue Team contributed to this breeding seasons record breaking success. Nine bald eagle juveniles were rescued from life threatening situations. One Box Bar nestling was discovered with a crossed bill and a disfigured right eye. The nestling will be used as an education bird, as it is not releasable. The second Box Bar nestling's leg was entangled in monofilament fishing line, cutting off circulation. The line was removed and the nestling fledged successfully three weeks later. One Granite Reef, one Rodeo, and two Horseshoe nestlings fell from the nest before they could fly. The Granite Reef and Horseshoe nestlings were replaced in the nest, and the Rodeo nestling in an adjacent tree. All four successfully fledged. One Sheep nestling was emaciated and dehydrated when banded at six weeks of age. It was hydrated, fed, and replaced in the nest, where it fledged six weeks later. One Sycamore nestling had a broken leg, and a broken pelvic bone when banded at six weeks of age. The nestling remains in rehabilitation for recovery. The Needle Rock nestling had a rough year. After falling out of the tree with its nest, the nestling was replaced in an alternate nest where it fell out a second time. We replaced the nestling into a third alternate nest we constructed, where it fledged. Four days later, the juvenile was shot; it is currently recovering in rehab. Bald Eagle Nest Survey Rocks 2002 The Arizona Bald Eagle Nest Survey is a concerted effort to find new and alternate bald eagle nests, monitor historical breeding areas and existing large nest for occupancy by bald eagles, and assist in determining statewide productivity. In 2002, these efforts resulted in the discovery of three new and one reoccupied historical bald eagle breeding areas, five alternate nests, and loss of three existing nests within known breeding areas. This is the second largest increase in the history of the Arizona Eagle population. Arizona now has 47 bald eagle breeding areas. 2002 Record Breaking Bald Eagle Breeding Season Our June Occupancy and Reproductive Flights are complete, and we come to the end of the record breaking breeding season. Of 41 occupied breeding areas, 34 pairs laid eggs, 10 have failed, 24 pairs hatched 46 young, and 39 have fledged. With 39 nestlings fledging, we have again broken the record for fledging young. The old record of 31 juveniles was set in 1999. Failed Successful
Near Record Winter Bald Eagle Population Survey results from the 2002 Arizona Bald Eagle Winter Count are just shy of breaking the record for wintering bald eagle populations. On 109 standardized survey routes (95 percent), agency biologists and volunteers observed 402 bald eagles visiting Arizona during the first week of January. This is just shy of the record 403 bald eagles counted in 1999. AGFD biologists are unsure why concentrations were so high, given the lack of rainfall over the winter. The lower Black River had an abnormally high concentration of 105 bald eagles from the Antelope Flat Pumping Station to the confluence with the Salt River. Survey results are compiled and mailed to the National Wildlife Federation for nationwide population estimates. [BACK TO TOP] [BACK TO REPORTS] [ HOME ] [ THE 'EAGLES' ] [ NESTWATCH PROGRAM ] [ SWBEMC ] [ MIGRATION STUDY ] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||