January 28, 1999
Eleven bald eagles spend winter in Seneca County
By Vicki Hunker
Staff Writer
Eleven bald eagles were found wintering in Seneca County during this month's Mid-Winter Eagle Survey conducted by the Division of Wildlife.
And there's been lots of new nesting activity in Ohio, said Mark Shieldcastle, bald eagle restoration coordinator at Crane Creek Wildlife Area Research Station.
''There's at least five new ones (nests) over last year's total,'' he said. ''They're scattered pretty much out.''
He said there's been a new pair confirmed to be building a new nest in Wyandot County and new nests being built by existing pairs in Lucas, Henry, Wood and Stark counties.
''We're checking into several other new sites,'' he added. ''There are more birds coming into breeding age,'' he said.
Sheildcastle said volunteers are on the lookout for new nests and nesting activity in old nests because the mating season traditionally takes place in this area beginning in early February, especially if the weather continues to be favorable.
In addition to birds hatched in Northern Ohio, Shieldcastle said mature eagles have moved into the area from Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ontario.
One of the pair inhabiting Knobby Nest south of Tiffin in a bird originally from Pennsylvania, he said. The origination of birds can be found by markings on the patagial tags given to eaglets before they fledged from their parents' nests.
Throughout Ohio, there were 142 eagles seen during the aerial and ground surveys conducted in January -- 74 adults and 68 immature birds. Other counties where large numbers were seen were Erie, 12; Lucas, nine; Ottawa, 25; Sandusky, 30; Trumbull, 14; and Wyandot, eight.
Although statewide figures were down slightly from last year's winter survey, wildlife officials suspect there are more eagles wintering in the area than observers were able to count because of heavy ice and snow conditions during the two-week observation period, which made access difficult to the areas where eagles nest.
Last year 149 eagles -- 95 adults and 54 immatures -- were tallied during the survey. Only six bald eagles were observed in 1979, the first year the Division of Wildlife began Ohio's Bald Eagle Restoration Program.
Last year, a modern-day record was set when 47 eagle pairs nested, raising 44 eaglets.
Bald eagle numbers declined dramatically nationwide during the 1960s and 1970s from habitat loss and the effects of toxic chemicals in the environment. Eagle numbers gradually rebounded after a ban on pesticides in 1972, combined with increased protection, wildlife management efforts and wetland restoration projects.
Wildlife management efforts have included fostering, or placing eaglets born in captivity into wild nests; building nesting platforms; acquiring and restoring wetlands in eagle breeding territories; rehabilitating sick or injured eagles; intense education efforts aimed at landowners and the public; and increased enforcement efforts around nest sites, especially during the critical nesting season.
How you can help
The state's Bald Eagle Restoration Program and Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey are funded through contributions to the state income tax checkoff program for endangered species and wildlife diversity and proceeds from the sale ofwildlife conservation license plates.
Ohio taxpayers can donate all or a portion of their state income tax refund by checking the appropriate box on their 1998 state income tax return form. Wildlife conservation plates featuring Ohio's state bird -- the cardinal -- can be purchased through a local deputy registrar or by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles toll-free at 888-PLATES3. A bald eagle license plate will be available later this year.