FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Phenomenal Rappahannock River Bald Eagle survey

[Sandy_Spencer@xxxxxxx]

On Monday, February 7, Bill Portlock of Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Jeff
Cooper, Wildlife Diversity Biologist for DGIF, and I conducted a bald eagle
survey on the Rappahannock River from Tappahannock to Rappahannock Academy
(above Port Royal).  We counted a total of 395 eagles; comprised of 219
adults, 168 immatures, and 8 unknowns.  This is single highest winter count
for any river in Virginia, the average counts for the past 10 years for
Rappahannock winter surveys have been 83 adults and 95 immatures.  The
previous high counts were 278 and 257 in 2001 and 2002 respectively.   This
is the first time the winter surveys were conducted this late... previous
years' surveys were conducted in January.  The suspected cause is a major
fish run.  Yellow perch are running now.


A graph showing the distributions of the eagles along the survey route can
be made available upon request.  The state make refined maps at a later
date.

Sandy C. Spencer, Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex
    (Rappahannock River Valley, James River,
     Presquile Island, and Plum Tree Island NWRs)
P.O. Box 1030
Warsaw, VA  22572
804/333-1470
804/333-3396 (fax)
Sandy_Spencer@xxxxxxx

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