News

Efforts to monitor American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nesting activity at NSF Indian Head are underway.  On March 31, 2008, biologists from the College of William and Mary conducted their first sampling efforts for the Bald Eagle monitoring study, required under the terms and conditions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bald Eagle biological opinion.  The monitoring study is for three nesting seasons and involves aerial surveys to determine nest locations, activity and productivity.  Once nests are identified eaglets are sampled, which includes biological measurements, blood assays to test for the West Nile Virus and environmental contaminants that could be present in food sources.  The images below show an eaglet from one nest of three, each about 33 days old.  Two tree climbers from Bartlett Trees lowered the eaglets to the ground for biological measurements.  RC&D’s Natural Resources Specialist Seth Berry is working closely with the College of William and Mary to facilitate the monitoring study.  Monitoring efforts by Southern Maryland RC&D and the College of William and Mary will conclude in December 2009.

Biological measurements.

RC&D Natural Resource Specialist Seth Berry holding an eaglet for measurement and feather collection.

A healthy eaglet.

For additional information, try these links:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bald Eagle Links

Maryland DNR Bald Eagle Fact sheet