Eagle watching in Arkansas is also greatly influenced by regional weather factors. During mild winters, bald eagles overwinter farther north and remain more dispersed than during cold winters. This results in fewer birds to observe here. Knowledge of wintering eagle numbers and distribution in Arkansas and the Nation was limited prior to 1979. In January that year, the National Wildlife Federation sponsored the first multi-agency cooperative count of wintering eagles throughout the lower 48 states and portions of Canada.
Volunteers coordinate eagle surveys annually at major wintering areas.
The census is conducted during a two-week period in January to minimize duplication in the count. Volunteers are also encouraged to plan activities around two predetermined target dates during the survey period. These surveys are used to more effectively protect and manage major wintering sites, because the key to viable eagle populations is maintaining suitable habitat. Arkansas eagle watchers are enjoying a banner year in 1996. The survey recorded over 1000 bald eagles.