Milford chronicle., 1956-02-17
Bald Eagle May Be
On Way Out

The bald eagle, official symbol Of
the United STATS Stnca 1872, may
be on its way TO extinction. You
can help find the reasons why.
The AudGbca Society Of the Dis
trict Of Colombia Is undertaking a
survey Of bald eagle nesting sites
in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware
and the District in an effort to dis
cover clues to a recent alarming
decrease in eagle numbers. The
Society is enlisting the aid Of the
public both in locating nests and
observing them.
This tri-state area, with its Ches-
apeake and Delaware Bays and
many years the center Of the
second largest eagle population
within the United States. Only
Florida had more. Smaller concen-
trations were found in the Great
Lakes region.
Reports from all these areas
point to a recent sharp decline in
eagle numbers. Urbanization, ex-
banded agriculture and hurricanes
all are believed to have played a
part IN the decline. Hunting may
be an important reason. Although
killing eagles is a federal offense,
subject to a $500 penalty, recovery
Of banded birds has included a
high percentage Of immature eagles
shot within a year Of banding.
Through the census, the Audu-
bon Society hopes to get the facts
and determine a program to pro-
tect the big bird.
The survey is getting under way
at a time when eagles already have
begun to nest and should be easy
to spot because Of still-bare tree
branches.
Eagle nests are huge-often five
feet deep and six feet across-and
usually are located near the top
Of a tall tree, so to so feet above
the ground. The nests are used
year after year, with the birds add
ing sticks to the construction each
season.
Che adult bald eagle is familiar
to almost everyone, with its white
head and Whitehall, 30-inch body
length and s to 71k foot wing
spread. The less well-known inn
mature bird is generally br0wnish
with no distinctive markings ex-
cept it's great size. It may be three
years or more before the young
bird attains adult plumage. Most
eagles seen in the Middle Atlantic
states are immature.
Eagles may be seen carrying
sticks to their nests as early as
December. The eggs are laid be-
tween January % and March 80.
The normal incubation period is
80 days, and then the young re-
main in the nest 10 to 13 weeks.
After that, young eagles often re-
turn to the nest to be fed and to
sleep.
Bald eagles are not generally
detrimental to man or livestock
Their preferred food is fish, which
they may caIch themselves or hi
Jack from other birds They take
some birds, particularly crippled
waterfowl.
You can assist in the bald eagle
survey in this way:
4. Report Immediately the exact
location Of any eagles nest you
know, giving your name and ad-
dress.
2. Tell whether you are willing
to keep the nest under observation,
so the Society can know II the
eagles are successful in raising
their young, or suggest someone
who can observe the nest.
3. Give a brief history Of nests
you know about, even If they have
been abandoned or destroyed.
4 The information desired in
cludss: location Of the nest, kind
Of tree in which it is built, height,
approximate size, dates Of bHiid-
ing activity and incubation, dates
of young in the nest, number Of
young Matched and number that
leave the nest, and causes for any
failure.
Observation should be carried
on from a distance and the birds
should not be disturbed.
All reports and Inquiries should
be addressed to Bald Eagle Survey,
The Audubon Society. 202 BENJAMIN
Franklin station, Washington 4,
ID. G.
The survey cmmittee is headed
hv Philip A. DgMont of the u. s..
Fish and Wildlife Service, J. M.
Abbott and William p. RYAN.