[NatureNS] 36th CKC Eagles/Raptors Count, Feb. 5/17,

From: Donna Crossland <dcrossland@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
References: <3D0254E7-CA31-4BFA-806C-86595190EF49@eastlink.ca>
Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2017 20:50:40 -0400
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Hi Paul:

=20

It=E2=80=99s harder to achieve a natural balance in nature in this era =
of supplemental feeding of eagles through industrial farming practices.  =
The dead chickens (diseased, in some cases) should be sent to the =
rendering plant.  A health scare is bound to arise.  Perhaps we will =
need to eventually think about holding an EagleWatch event with 45 =
eagles instead of 400+, and have a similar enjoyment benefit (they are =
amazing!), and make just as much money? ?  Could this work?  I suggest =
it must.

  =20

The =E2=80=98camera on a loon nest=E2=80=99 idea was suggested a few =
years back by a former superintendent.  I was only lukewarm to the idea, =
stressing that loons prefer solitude and I feared extra people becoming =
interested in a nesting loon could possibly encourage them to go find =
the nest in order to see things up close.  Since then, I=E2=80=99ve =
started to reconsider other applications of having a camera on a nest, =
now that we have a pair of eagles flying up and down the Mersey at the =
inlet to Loon Lake (one of our most productive loon nesting lakes, as =
you well know).  Eagles are populating many other inland lakes in the =
southwest where a regular supply of dead chicken is not available.

=20

More notes and papers below-

=20

http://www.nhaudubon.org/bald-eagle-common-loon-interaction-study/

=20

=20

http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3356/JRR-09-72.1?journalCode=3Drapt

=20

An email written to Dr Pierre-Yves Daoust
>>> "Pokras, Mark"  <mailto:Mark.Pokras@tufts.edu> =
<Mark.Pokras@tufts.edu> 11/10/15 8:14 PM >>>=20

Pierre -- Wonderful to hear from you!  Thanks so much for the excellent =
report and photos.    The eagle issue is one that many people down here =
have been talking about.  There is NO doubt from talking to field =
biologists that bald eagles are taking an increasingly large number of =
loon chicks -- I've even witnessed 2 episodes myself (one chick just =
days old, the other one just prefledging).  And these are in area where =
no one (to my knowledge) is doing any supplemental feeding of eagles.=20

But we also have several documented observations of eagles killing and =
preying upon adult loons.  I posted a bird last summer (ad F) that was =
seen to have been killed on the nest by bald eagle, and necropsied =
several loons that had quite suggestive lesions.  As eagle populations =
increase, there is little doubt that these sorts of problems will =
increase.=20

I'd be happy to put you in touch with some of the loon field biologists =
I've been working with who can tell you more about what they've been =
seeing.  It would be good to pool people's observations & knowledge and =
perhaps think about a publication on the topic.  We'll be discussing =
this (among many other issues) at the regional loon meeting in New =
Hampshire in mid-March.  I wonder if there's any possibility that you or =
other Canadian colleagues might join us for that meeting?=20

On a related issue of trauma, I've also started to pay attention to some =
of the fatal loon-loon interactions in which adults kill chicks or other =
adults.  Again, something that's being increasingly noted by field =
biologists and that I've been seeing at the necropsy table...love to =
chat with you about that sometime as well.=20
Subjectively it has seemed to me that when adult are killing smaller =
chicks, many of the injuries are on the head & neck.  When adults kill =
other adults or larger chicks, a lot of the wounds seem to be to chest =
and abdomen -- in many cases looking very much like the sort of wound =
one might expect from an arrow.  Am attaching a couple of photos of a =
chick seen to be killed by an adult this year that had a puncture =
directly to the heart.=20

All the best!=20

Mark=20

=20

From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of =
rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca
Sent: February-07-17 3:38 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] 36th CKC Eagles/Raptors Count, Feb. 5/17, =
preliminary results + Eagle Watch stuff

=20

Yes Donna - I've seen eagles chasing common mergansers=20

often enough while fishing to know they will feed on water fowl.

Especially the white drakes - I guess they think its a chicken!

Did anyone ever try putting a trail camera on a nest? Then you

could see what happened. A bit of a chore no doubt!

Once I was fishing a small lake where there was a loon with a chick.

The loon stayed close and when I released a fish that I had caught

the loon dove and came near. Seems like it knew the fish would be

a bit disorientated and would be easy to catch. Anyway the chick stayed

away until an Owl hooted from a tree by the lake. The adult loon quickly =
called

the chick and the chick came running over the water. They knew=20

about owls!

Interesting post - something to think about.

Paul

 =20

On February 6, 2017 at 10:41 PM Donna Crossland <dcrossland@eastlink.ca> =
wrote:=20

Thanks for sharing this update, Jim!  What an incredible event.

Watching 40 eagles all dine at once is quite a spectacle. =20

=20

434 eagles ... one has to wonder!  Is there a threshold?

=20

I=E2=80=99m already concerned about our loon chick survivorship this =
year!  Ykes. =20

=20

I=E2=80=99ve been recently scouting out potential sites for some loon =
nesting platforms on the Annapolis River, where large water fluctuations =
make nesting pretty well impossible, but there should be lots of fish =
for loons to feed young.  The platforms will rise and fall with the =
water, and there has been good success.  It=E2=80=99s been suggested =
that we should try building little canopies over the platform to deter =
eagles and other predators.  This latest report provides added =
inspiration.  Thanks!

=20

Donna=20

=20

From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Jim Wolford
Sent: February-06-17 8:56 PM
To: naturens
Subject: [NatureNS] 36th CKC Eagles/Raptors Count, Feb. 5/17, =
preliminary results + Eagle Watch stuff

=20

=20

=20

Begin forwarded message:

=20

From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>

Subject: 36th CKC Eagles/Raptors Count, Feb. 5/17, preliminary results

Date: February 6, 2017 at 3:51:19 PM AST

=20

Here are the preliminary results from yesterday=E2=80=99s 36th CKC =
Eagles/Raptors Count for Eastern King=E2=80=99s County on Feb. 5, 2017.

About 40 people in 16 or 17 or 18 field parties went out to designated =
areas just for an hour, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with nearly perfect =
conditions, e.g., very little wind, mostly overcast but with very good =
visibility, no precipitation, just a bit of snow on the ground, and all =
roads accessible for our vehicles.  Also most of the eagles seen were =
perched and not flying from area to area =E2=80=94 ideal for us. =20

Bald Eagles seen totalled 434 =E2=80=94 272 adults (64% of aged eagles), =
154 immatures (36%), and 8 of undetermined ages.

Also 2 relatively new eagle nests were reported: (a) east of the road =
from Avonport to Oak Island; and (b) west of Grand Pre Historic Park =
along the railroad tracks in the tall poplars.

55 Red-tailed Hawks (one near Oak Island is very light-coloured).

1-2 Northern Goshawks
1-2 Northern Harriers
1 Rough-legged Hawk
1 Peregrine Falcon

Other wildlife reported included a Coyote; 11Canada Geese; 3000 + 40 + =
23 Black Ducks; 2 Mallards; 1 Flicker; 70 Ravens; 15 Crows; 29 Horned =
Larks; 250 + 35 + 80 Bohemian Waxwings; 1 + 30 +10 + 10 Cedar Waxwings; =
13 Robins.

I still haven=E2=80=99t asked Bernard Forsythe about whether he saw a =
Barred Owl at dusk as usual near his feeding tray?

=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=
=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94
Yesterday was the last day of the two EAGLE WATCH weekends at Sheffield =
Mills.  I think the first three days had relatively very few eagles at =
the big feeding field off the north end of Middle Dyke Road.  But =
yesterday things changed positively in a very big way for a great =
conclusion for this year=E2=80=99s Eagle Watch.  (Incidentally, I think =
the community did very well on all four days in terms of selling oodles =
of breakfasts and filling the Hall with eaters/recreators.)

I was told that at 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. at the big field on Sunday, 40+ =
eagles =E2=80=9Cdecided=E2=80=9D to get hungry and cooperatively swooped =
down to the offered chicken carcasses (daily mortalities in the chicken =
barns).  But then at 2 p.m., when I departed from the Hall, there was a =
spectacular assemblage (convocation is the right word) at the big field. =
 I cannot recall ever seeing more eagles in one spot at one time.  I =
estimated 75 eagles that were perched (+ some flying about), and 25 more =
were on the ground interacting and feeding.  Thus whichever gawkers =
waited until then or just luckily showed up, like myself, really basked =
in the sights that we all hope for when we participate in the Eagle =
Watch or go out there on our own. =20

For most of the winter, the offering of dead chickens only happens once =
a day in early to mid morning, but during the four Eagle Watch days =
there are often multiple offerings in both morning and/or noon and/or =
afternoon. =20
=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=
=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94

Cheers, and thanks to all CKC Counters yesterday!, from Jim in =
Wolfville.

=20


 =20


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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=3DEN-CA link=3Dblue =
vlink=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>Hi Paul:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>It=E2=80=99s harder to achieve a <b>natural balance</b> in nature in =
this era of supplemental feeding of eagles through industrial farming =
practices.=C2=A0 The dead chickens (diseased, in some cases) should be =
sent to the rendering plant.=C2=A0 A health scare is bound to arise. =
=C2=A0Perhaps we will need to eventually think about holding an =
EagleWatch event with 45 eagles instead of 400+, and have a similar =
enjoyment benefit (they are amazing!), and make just as much money? =
?=C2=A0 Could this work?=C2=A0 I suggest it =
must.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>=C2=A0 =C2=A0<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>The =E2=80=98camera on a loon nest=E2=80=99 idea was suggested a few =
years back by a former superintendent.=C2=A0 I was only lukewarm to the =
idea, stressing that loons prefer solitude and I feared extra people =
becoming interested in a nesting loon could possibly encourage them to =
go find the nest in order to see things up close.=C2=A0 Since then, =
I=E2=80=99ve started to reconsider other applications of having a camera =
on a nest, now that we have a pair of eagles flying up and down the =
Mersey at the inlet to Loon Lake (one of our most productive loon =
nesting lakes, as you well know).=C2=A0 Eagles are populating many other =
inland lakes in the southwest where a regular supply of dead chicken is =
not available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>More notes and papers below-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p style=3D'background:white'><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><a =
href=3D"http://www.nhaudubon.org/bald-eagle-common-loon-interaction-study=
/">http://www.nhaudubon.org/bald-eagle-common-loon-interaction-study/</a>=
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'background:white'><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p=
></span></p><p style=3D'background:white'><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p=
></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'background:white'><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><a =
href=3D"http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3356/JRR-09-72.1?journalCode=3Dr=
apt">http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3356/JRR-09-72.1?journalCode=3Drapt=
</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:black'>An email written to Dr Pierre-Yves =
Daoust<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; &quot;Pokras,&nbsp;Mark&quot;&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"mailto:Mark.Pokras@tufts.edu" =
target=3D"_blank">&lt;Mark.Pokras@tufts.edu&gt;</a> 11/10/15 8:14 PM =
&gt;&gt;&gt; <br><br>Pierre -- Wonderful to hear from you!&nbsp; Thanks =
so much for the excellent report and photos. &nbsp; &nbsp;<span =
style=3D'background:yellow'>The eagle issue is one that many people down =
here have been talking about.&nbsp; There is NO doubt from talking to =
field biologists that bald eagles are taking an increasingly large =
number of loon chicks -- I've even witnessed 2 episodes myself (one =
chick just days old, the other one just prefledging).</span> &nbsp;And =
these are in area where no one (to my knowledge) is doing any =
supplemental feeding of eagles. <br><br>But we also have several =
documented observations of eagles killing and preying upon adult =
loons.&nbsp; I posted a bird last summer (ad F) that was seen to have =
been killed on the nest by bald eagle, and necropsied several loons that =
had quite suggestive lesions.&nbsp; As eagle populations increase, there =
is little doubt that these sorts of problems will increase. <br><br>I'd =
be happy to put you in touch with some of the loon field biologists I've =
been working with who can tell you more about what they've been =
seeing.&nbsp; It would be good to pool people's observations &amp; =
knowledge and perhaps think about a publication on the topic.&nbsp; =
We'll be discussing this (among many other issues) at the regional loon =
meeting in New Hampshire in mid-March.&nbsp; I wonder if there's any =
possibility that you or other Canadian colleagues might join us for that =
meeting? <br><br>On a related issue of trauma, I've also started to pay =
attention to some of the fatal loon-loon interactions in which adults =
kill chicks or other adults.&nbsp; Again, something that's being =
increasingly noted by field biologists and that I've been seeing at the =
necropsy table...love to chat with you about that sometime as well. =
<br>Subjectively it has seemed to me that when <span =
style=3D'background:yellow'>adult are killing smaller chicks, many of =
the injuries are on the head &amp; neck.</span> &nbsp;When adults kill =
other adults or larger chicks, a lot of the wounds seem to be to chest =
and abdomen -- in many cases looking very much like the sort of wound =
one might expect from an arrow.&nbsp; Am attaching a couple of photos of =
a chick seen to be killed by an adult this year that had a puncture =
directly to the heart. <br><br>All the best! =
<br><br>Mark&nbsp;</span><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><div><div =
style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm =
0cm 0cm'><p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span>=
</b><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> =
naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] =
<b>On Behalf Of </b>rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca<br><b>Sent:</b> =
February-07-17 3:38 PM<br><b>To:</b> =
naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<br><b>Subject:</b> RE: [NatureNS] 36th CKC =
Eagles/Raptors Count, Feb. 5/17, preliminary results + Eagle Watch =
stuff<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>Yes =
Donna - I've seen eagles chasing common mergansers =
<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>often enough while =
fishing to know they will feed on water =
fowl.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>Especially the white =
drakes - I guess they think its a chicken!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>Did anyone ever try putting a trail camera on a nest? =
Then you<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>could see what =
happened. A bit of a chore no doubt!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>Once I was fishing a small lake where there was a loon =
with a chick.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>The loon =
stayed close and when I released a fish that I had =
caught<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>the loon dove and =
came near. Seems like it knew the fish would =
be<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>a bit disorientated and =
would be easy to catch. Anyway the chick =
stayed<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>away until an Owl =
hooted from a tree by the lake. The adult loon quickly =
called<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>the chick and the =
chick came running over the water. They knew =
<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>about =
owls!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>Interesting post - =
something to think about.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>Paul<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote =
style=3D'border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm =
8.0pt;margin-left:0cm;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p =
class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On February 6, 2017 at =
10:41 PM Donna Crossland &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:dcrossland@eastlink.ca">dcrossland@eastlink.ca</a>&gt; =
wrote: <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>Thanks for sharing this update, Jim!&nbsp; What an incredible =
event.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>Watching 40 eagles all dine at once is quite a spectacle.&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>434 eagles ... one has to wonder!&nbsp; Is there a =
threshold?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>I=E2=80=99m already concerned about our loon chick survivorship this =
year!&nbsp; Ykes.&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>I=E2=80=99ve been recently scouting out potential sites for some loon =
nesting platforms on the Annapolis River, where large water fluctuations =
make nesting pretty well impossible, but there should be lots of fish =
for loons to feed young.&nbsp; The platforms will rise and fall with the =
water, and there has been good success.&nbsp; It=E2=80=99s been =
suggested that we should try building little canopies over the platform =
to deter eagles and other predators.&nbsp; This latest report provides =
added inspiration.&nbsp; Thanks!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>Donna </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div =
style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm =
0cm 0cm;border-color:currentColor currentColor;border-image: none'><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><strong><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span>=
</strong><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.=
ca</a> [<a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca">mailto:naturens-owner@chebu=
cto.ns.ca</a>] <strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>On Behalf Of =
</span></strong>Jim Wolford<br><strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></strong> =
February-06-17 8:56 PM<br><strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>To:</span></strong> =
naturens<br><strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></strong> =
[NatureNS] 36th CKC Eagles/Raptors Count, Feb. 5/17, preliminary results =
+ Eagle Watch stuff</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>Begin =
forwarded message:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>From: =
</span></strong><span style=3D'font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Jim =
Wolford &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;</sp=
an><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Subject: 36th CKC =
Eagles/Raptors Count, Feb. 5/17, preliminary =
results</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Date: =
</span></strong><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>February 6, 2017 at =
3:51:19 PM AST</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Here are the preliminary results from =
yesterday=E2=80=99s 36th CKC Eagles/Raptors Count for Eastern =
King=E2=80=99s County on Feb. 5, 2017.<br><br>About 40 people in 16 or =
17 or 18 field parties went out to designated areas just for an hour, =
from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with nearly perfect conditions, e.g., very =
little wind, mostly overcast but with very good visibility, no =
precipitation, just a bit of snow on the ground, and all roads =
accessible for our vehicles. &nbsp;Also most of the eagles seen were =
perched and not flying from area to area =E2=80=94 ideal for us. =
&nbsp;<br><br>Bald Eagles seen totalled 434 =E2=80=94 272 adults (64% of =
aged eagles), 154 immatures (36%), and 8 of undetermined =
ages.<br><br>Also 2 relatively new eagle nests were reported: (a) east =
of the road from Avonport to Oak Island; and (b) west of Grand Pre =
Historic Park along the railroad tracks in the tall poplars.<br><br>55 =
Red-tailed Hawks (one near Oak Island is very =
light-coloured).<br><br>1-2 Northern Goshawks<br>1-2 Northern =
Harriers<br>1 Rough-legged Hawk<br>1 Peregrine Falcon<br><br>Other =
wildlife reported included a Coyote; 11Canada Geese; 3000 + 40 + 23 =
Black Ducks; 2 Mallards; 1 Flicker; 70 Ravens; 15 Crows; 29 Horned =
Larks; 250 + 35 + 80 Bohemian Waxwings; 1 + 30 +10 + 10 Cedar Waxwings; =
13 Robins.<br><br>I still haven=E2=80=99t asked Bernard Forsythe about =
whether he saw a Barred Owl at dusk as usual near his feeding =
tray?<br><br>=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=
=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94<br>Yesterday was the =
last day of the two EAGLE WATCH weekends at Sheffield Mills. &nbsp;I =
think the first three days had relatively very few eagles at the big =
feeding field off the north end of Middle Dyke Road. &nbsp;But yesterday =
things changed positively in a very big way for a great conclusion for =
this year=E2=80=99s Eagle Watch. &nbsp;(Incidentally, I think the =
community did very well on all four days in terms of selling oodles of =
breakfasts and filling the Hall with eaters/recreators.)<br><br>I was =
told that at 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. at the big field on Sunday, 40+ eagles =
=E2=80=9Cdecided=E2=80=9D to get hungry and cooperatively swooped down =
to the offered chicken carcasses (daily mortalities in the chicken =
barns). &nbsp;But then at 2 p.m., when I departed from the Hall, there =
was a spectacular assemblage (convocation is the right word) at the big =
field. &nbsp;I cannot recall ever seeing more eagles in one spot at one =
time. &nbsp;I estimated 75 eagles that were perched (+ some flying =
about), and 25 more were on the ground interacting and feeding. =
&nbsp;Thus whichever gawkers waited until then or just luckily showed =
up, like myself, really basked in the sights that we all hope for when =
we participate in the Eagle Watch or go out there on our own. =
&nbsp;<br><br>For most of the winter, the offering of dead chickens only =
happens once a day in early to mid morning, but during the four Eagle =
Watch days there are often multiple offerings in both morning and/or =
noon and/or afternoon. =
&nbsp;<br>=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=
=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94<br><br>Cheers, =
and thanks to all CKC Counters yesterday!, from Jim in =
Wolfville.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><br>&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>
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