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Although Virginia’s wintering population of bald eagles was down by 23 birds from last year’s count, Dr. Mitchell Byrd of the College of William and Mary said that this spring’s hatching success has been “unbelievable!”
Dr. Byrd said that the decline in the midwinter count is thought not to reflect a decline in the numbers of the eagle. He attributed it to the moderate weather throughout most of the winter which may have caused more birds to winter further north.
The data gathered on hatching seems to support his hypothesis. Dr. Byrd said that at least 105 chicks have been counted in nests along Virginia’s rivers and on the Eastern Shore. In addition, eight new nests were counted by the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries Nongame Wildlife and Endangered Species Program.
“That is an indication that the bald eagle is making a strong comeback in Virginia,” a commission spokesman said.
A total of 74 nests were counted, compared with 66 last year. Eleven nests were sighted along the Pamunkey, York and Mattoponi rivers. Sixteen nests were found in the James and Chickahominy river basins. Along the Rappahannock, Piankatank and Potomac rivers, 21 nests were located, 18 with young chicks inside.
Another four nesting sites were found on the Eastern Shore, and Buggs Island Lake still has one active nest.
Dr. Byrd said at least four chicks are in the nests on the Eastern
93.2%