Diary
of Eagle Activity at the Bait Site
by Chris Martin, Conservation
Biologist, New Hampshire Audubon
1/31/08
 |
Custom
made eagle decoy on bait.
|
In
addition to our main bait pile at the north end of the field, we added
another bait pile at the remote south end of the
field and also
another deer carcass right near the river's edge.
We
created two custom-made eagle decoys by modifying turkey decoys bought
at a local sporting goods
store and installed them near both bait piles located in the field.
The decoys of perching adult eagles were designed to "show" other
eagles that experienced adult birds found the site to be safe for perching
and feeding. In the two weeks after placing out the decoys, we still
did not observe any eagles landing on our bait. We later removed the
decoys.
2/12/08
Freshly fallen snow recorded tracks that confirm coyotes were
feeding on the south end bait pile last night. The coyotes seem to
be more comfortable here because the site is farther from human
activity. In a couple hours of observation, we saw one adult eagle,
one sub-adult eagle, and three immature-plumage eagles on the river
nearby, including one immature that was feeding on something on an
island in the river just downstream from the river's edge deer carcass.
2/14/08
After
24 hours of freezing rain and then just plain old rain, the river's
edge bait is completely under water, but it remains held in place
by a stake. When the river goes back down, it will once again be available
for the eagles to use. We decided to try something else - motion. I brought
in three wild turkey carcasses to the north end bait pile and staked
them in place with wings and tails flapping in the wind, hoping to create
more visual interest for the eagles. We saw three eagles circling
over the river in the following two hours, but none came close to investigate.
2/14/08
After leaving our capture site, I visited another location
about 10 miles upriver that is a clear example of the problems that
continued riverfront land development poses for wintering eagles.
At this particular spot, a local land owner had just cut down more
than two dozen mature white pines near the river, pines which had
been used as an overnight roosting site by eagles (see short lesson
>>). The empty area in the middle of the photo used to be thick with
mature
pines,
just like are visible on the left edge of the photo. Even though
some trees were left standing along the river's edge, removal of
many of the trees behind them eliminated the windbreak or thermal
protection that made the site attractive to overnighting eagles.
To conserve energy, the birds need to get out of the chilly night
time winds. This site has now lost most of its value as a night roost
for eagles.
2/22/08 What's
Next:
Although key personnel will be out of the state over the next
two weeks, we will continue to provide bait for eagles (and coyotes)
at our capture site, hoping the next two weeks see the eagles begin
to utilize the food bonanza they fly past nearly every day!
We haven't
given up yet! – Chris
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