MassWildlife Advisory

WHEN:  Friday, January 7, 2005  9-3PM

WHERE: Statewide—MassWildlife staff may be reached at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough or at the Quabbin Reservoir at the Enfield Lookout during the day. Best opportunity to view eagles is at the Enfield Lookout at Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown or along the Merrimack River.  Views are generally distant.

BACKGROUND: 

MassWildlife will be participating in the nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey from January 1 through 14, 2005. January 7 will be used for a concentrated survey of major rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the coast by MassWildlife personnel and volunteers across the state. National Grid will provide MassWildlife staff with a helicopter survey of the Quabbin and Connecticut River area. In 1979, the first year of this survey, 8 eagles were documented in the state.  In 2004 approximately 61 bald eagles were documented as wintering in Massachusetts during the count period. The highest number of eagles counted in this survey was 76 in January of 1998.  Documented origins of wintering bald eagles based on leg bands include: Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan.

Eagle sightings during the count period are welcomed and may be reported in writing to "Eagle Survey", MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581 or via email to mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. Include town, location of sighting, and if the bird was an adult or immature eagle.

Fact sheets on the eagle restoration project and natural history information may be obtained through the Westborough office from Kim Ausmus, 508/792-7270 x200 or Ellie Horwitz x105.

CONTACTS:

Westborough Field Headquarters—Ellie Horwitz, Chief, Information & Education 508/792-7270 x105

Merrimack River Area—Patricia Huckery, Northeast District Supervisor 978/621-8432 (cell) or 978/263-4347 (office); Dr. Thomas French, Assistant Director, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species 508/450-5141 (cell) or 508/792-7270 x163 (office)

Quabbin Reservoir, Enfield Lookout—Marion Larson, Information & Education Biologist 508/330-2154 (cell) or 508/792-7270 x111 (office).