[NatureNS] 2014 Eagle Count Results, Feb. 2, 2014 -- 388 bald eagles etc.

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From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:40:06 -0400
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> Subject: 2014 Eagle Count Results, Feb. 2, 2014 -- 388 bald eagles  
> etc.
>
> 33rd Annual Cyril K. Coldwell Count of Eagles and Other Raptors of  
> Eastern King's County
>
> FEB. 2, 2014, was not a bad day weather-wise for our 33rd Annual  
> Cyril K. Coldwell Count of Eagles and Other Raptors of Eastern  
> King's County.  The sky was overcast but visibility generally good,  
> and temperatures were about +2 C., with little or no  
> precipitation.  Snow cover on the ground was near total but very  
> shallow.    And the dykeland roads were all driveable, a definite  
> improvement over many past counts.
>
> Below are our results, from 35 people in 16 field parties from 10  
> to 11 a.m.  Just one hour minimized the double-counting of eagles,  
> but otherwise our count is much like our regular Christmas Bird  
> Count.  Each field party has an assigned area, and the locales  
> covered extend from Scots' Bay south to Black River, and from  
> Avonport west to Kentville, including all areas in between those  
> extremes.
>
> 388 total bald eagles -- 231 adults, 153 immatures, 4 of unknown  
> ages -- the ratio 	of ad./imm. = 231/153 = 60%/40%;
> 59 red-tailed hawks;
> 2 rough-legged hawk;
> 2 sharp-shinned hawks;
> 2 merlins (pigeon hawks);
> 1 whitish-plumaged gyrfalcon;
> 1 unidentified hawk;
> 1 barred owl;
> 2 northern shrikes.
>
> One day earlier, Bernard Forsythe and Rick Whitman found 2 short- 
> eared owls at ne. Grand Pre and 2 great horned owls north of  
> Noggins Farm Market, Greenwich.
>
> For the bald eagles, largest numbers were 75 in ne. Grand Pre  
> (mostly on the ground), 70 nw. of Port Williams (between Cornwallis  
> & Canard Rivers), 53 n. & w. of Canning, 44 in Avonport area, 35  
> along Gaspereau River.  And James & Lana Churchill reported two  
> bald eagle nests that had adult eagles attending them (at Scots'  
> Bay & Blomidon).
>
> We had some problematic groups of eagles in the area east and north  
> of Grand Pre, and we hope such enigmas cancel each other out, and  
> that we at least approximate a good estimate of the numbers around  
> on this date.
>
> Other wildlife of interest seen during the count included 4+1  
> coyotes, a gray squirrel, thousands of black ducks, hundreds of  
> great black-backed gulls, 2 hooded mergansers, 1 kingfisher, 60  
> horned larks, snow buntings, cardinals, 1 white-winged crossbill.
>
> Our history of this unscientific count (just once a year, and very  
> weather-affected) goes back to 1979 and only 22 total eagles.   
> Cyril Coldwell started putting out agricultural and trapping  
> carrion back in the mid-1960s at Gaspereau.  Gradually the eagles  
> increased in numbers, but in 1991-1993 there was a huge jump of  
> numbers of eagles from 148 to 442! for eastern King's County.  Why  
> so sudden is a mystery, but the general increase parallelled the  
> growth of the poultry industry.
>
> After 1993 our annual count totals have fluctuated mostly between  
> 300 and 400 eagles, but extreme high counts were 525 in 1997 and  
> 580 in 2000.  Our 2013 total was 293 eagles, of course all bald  
> eagles, and it took three tries to get in an acceptable count.
>
> Cheers from Jim in Wolfville, and thanks to all of the unnamed  
> participants in this year's count.


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>2014 Eagle Count Results, Feb. 2, =
2014 -- 388 bald eagles etc.</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div>  <div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><b>33rd Annual Cyril K. Coldwell Count of =
Eagles and Other Raptors of Eastern King's =
County</b></span></div><div><br></div><div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>FEB. =
2, 2014,</b> was not a bad day weather-wise for our <b>33rd Annual Cyril =
K. Coldwell Count of Eagles and Other Raptors of Eastern King's =
County</b>.&nbsp; The sky was overcast but visibility generally good, =
and temperatures were about +2 C., with little or no =
precipitation.&nbsp; Snow cover on the ground was near total but very =
shallow.&nbsp; &nbsp; And the dykeland roads were all driveable, a =
definite improvement over many past counts.</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">Below are =
our <b>results</b>, from 35 people in 16 field parties from 10 to 11 =
a.m.&nbsp; Just one hour minimized the double-counting of eagles, but =
otherwise our count is much like our regular Christmas Bird Count.&nbsp; =
Each field party has an assigned area, and the locales covered extend =
from Scots' Bay south to Black River, and from Avonport west to =
Kentville, including all areas in between those =
extremes.</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica"><b>388 total bald eagles</b> -- 231 adults, 153 =
immatures, 4 of unknown ages -- the ratio <span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" =
style=3D"white-space:pre">	</span>of ad./imm. =3D 231/153 =3D =
60%/40%;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">59 <b>red-tailed =
hawks</b>;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">2 <b>rough-legged =
hawk</b>;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">2 <b>sharp-shinned =
hawks</b>;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">2<b> merlins</b> (pigeon =
hawks);</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">1 whitish-plumaged =
<b>gyrfalcon</b>;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">1 =
unidentified hawk;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">1 =
<b>barred owl</b>;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">2<b> =
northern shrikes</b>.</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica">One day earlier, Bernard Forsythe and Rick Whitman =
found 2 <b>short-eared owls</b> at ne. Grand Pre and 2 <b>great horned =
owls</b> north of Noggins Farm Market, Greenwich.</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>For =
the bald eagles</b>, largest numbers were 75 in ne. Grand Pre (mostly on =
the ground), 70 nw. of Port Williams (between Cornwallis &amp; Canard =
Rivers), 53 n. &amp; w. of Canning, 44 in Avonport area, 35 along =
Gaspereau River.&nbsp; And James &amp; Lana Churchill reported two<b> =
bald eagle nests</b> that had adult eagles attending them (at Scots' Bay =
&amp; Blomidon).</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica">We had some problematic groups of eagles in the area =
east and north of Grand Pre, and we hope such enigmas cancel each other =
out, and that we at least approximate a good estimate of the numbers =
around on this date.</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica"><b>Other wildlife of interest </b>seen during the =
count included 4+1 <b>coyotes</b>, a <b>gray squirrel</b>, thousands of =
black ducks, hundreds of great black-backed gulls, 2 <b>hooded =
mergansers</b>, 1<b> kingfisher</b>, 60 horned larks, snow buntings, =
cardinals, 1<b> white-winged crossbill</b>.</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">Our =
<b>history of this unscientific count</b> (just once a year, and very =
weather-affected) goes back to 1979 and only 22 total eagles.&nbsp; =
Cyril Coldwell started putting out agricultural and trapping carrion =
back in the mid-1960s at Gaspereau.&nbsp; Gradually the eagles increased =
in numbers, but in 1991-1993 there was a huge jump of numbers of eagles =
from 148 to 442! for eastern King's County.&nbsp; Why so sudden is a =
mystery, but the general increase parallelled the growth of the poultry =
industry. &nbsp;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica">After 1993 our annual count totals have fluctuated =
mostly between 300 and 400 eagles, but extreme high counts were 525 in =
1997 and 580 in 2000.&nbsp; Our 2013 total was 293 eagles, of course all =
bald eagles, and it took three tries to get in an acceptable =
count.</font></div></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica">Cheers from Jim in Wolfville, and thanks to all of the =
unnamed participants in this year's =
count.</font></div></blockquote></div><br></body></html>=

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