Diary
of Eagle Activity at the Bait Site
by Chris Martin, Conservation
Biologist, New Hampshire Audubon
 |
Bait
at the capture site on the river..
|
3/6
This afternoon I delivered one more frozen deer to our capture site
near the Merrimack River, placing it at the south bait pile. Although
it was above
the waterline two days ago (see photo), the riverside bait pile is
now underwater again. The north bait pile remains largely neglected
by all scavengers.
Signs
of Spring
Common
mergansers and common goldeneyes are engaged in courtship displays
on the completely ice-free river. Male red-winged
blackbirds are singing from the treetops along the edges of the field.
Other signs of spring’s rapid approach here in New Hampshire
include muddy sections in our ice-covered access road, a turkey vulture
drifting overhead, and my vehicle’s windows rolled down for
comfort.
Activity in Local Nest Sites
 |
Eagle
track in the snow by bait site. |
All
these events signal that we are fast approaching the end of our opportunity
to catch and place transmitters on any of the
locally wintering eagles.
The most obvious sign of spring is that volunteer
observers at two eagle nest sites elsewhere in the state have already
confirmed adult eagles incubating their eggs! Nevertheless, there were
still eight eagles present at the local night roost on the Merrimack
tonight. I saw one of them, a clean white-headed adult, flying south
at treetop level at top speed past the bait piles at about 3:45pm, but
he/she didn't even pause to look at our bait. But tracks in the snow
indicate that an eagle stopped by at the south bait pile recently (photo).
Next week may be our last chance for success this season!
We haven't
given up yet! – Chris
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