Training Manual. Ver Katie Houvener. EagleWatch Training Manual

Transcription

1 Training Manual Ver Katie Houvener 1

2 1101 Audubon Way Maitland, FL fl.audubon.org Welcome to EagleWatch! My name is Shawnlei Breeding and I am the Audubon EagleWatch Program Manager. I wanted to introduce myself and personally thank you for volunteering your valuable time with this program. You are now part of an amazing team of volunteers in one of the premier community science programs in the United States! I came to this role in 2016 and am so proud to lead Audubon Florida s conservation effort for Florida s Bald Eagles. In an effort to keep the Training Manual current over time, it references generic positions or titles when providing contact information. Instead of saying Contact Shawnlei Breeding it will say Contact the EagleWatch Program Manager. This cover letter serves as a link between the two, providing my information as well as additional County Coordinator details for the areas that have them. Please don t hesitate to contact me any time with questions or concerns. I am available by phone at , Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. For inquiries outside of those hours, I am available by at eaglewatch@audubon.org and I will attempt to respond as soon as possible. The following counties have County Coordinators, experienced volunteers who help organize the monitoring effort in areas with a high number of nests and volunteers. They are an excellent resource for local questions, help finding nests and emergency issues. The coordinators work closely with me and keep me informed of any important matters in their region. If you live or volunteer in one of these counties, you may contact your local coordinator first but may always call or me directly as well. County Name Phone Clay, Duval, & Nassau Kaye Lee klee11750@gmail.com Hillsborough Nancy Murrah nmurrahfirefly@gmail.com Indian River Billi Wagner cassowary@bellsouth.net Martin Linda Wishney pelican2000@hotmail.com Pasco Kim Rexroat krexroat@tampabay.rr.com Pinellas Barb Walker Louise Roy audubonbarb@gmail.com mroy29250@aol.com Polk Reinier Munguia rmung@wildstockphotos.com St Johns & Putnam Amy Koch amkoch@comcast.net Thank you again for donating your valuable time to EagleWatch. Together we can make a difference for Bald Eagles in our state! Sincerely, Shawnlei Breeding Audubon EagleWatch Coordinator

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTIONS Bald 6 Table of Contents 2 Preface 3 EagleWatch Program Overview and Goals Program Overview EagleWatch Program Goals EagleWatch Program Outcomes 4 Volunteer Job Description Summary of Position Training Length of Program 5 Volunteer Guidelines Stewardship Reporting New Nests 6 EagleWatch Website And Facebook Group Contacts 7 EagleWatch Monitoring Protocols Nest Identification Nest Assignment 7 Visiting the Nest(s) Observation Methods Important Monitoring Notes 8 Key Observations 9 Weather Drones Emergencies and Rescues 10 Emergency Contacts 11 Reporting Your Observations Reporting Your Observations 11 Eaglewatch Nest Database Reporting Essentials 12 Bald Eagle Protections, Human Activities And Nest Disturbances Bald Eagle Protections 13 Relative Sensitivity Of Nesting Bald Eagles To Human Activities 14 Eagle Biology General overview 15 Threats and Territorial Fights General Nesting Information 16 Copulation Eggs & Incubation 18 Hatching Eaglet Growth And Development 19 Plumage Sequence Eaglet Behaviors 20 Fledging 21 APPENDIX Appendix A Regulations for the Protection of Bald Eagles 22 Appendix B Nest Disturbance Decision Tree 24 Appendix C EagleWatch Cheat Sheet 25 Appendix D EagleWatch Nest Monitoring Etiquette 26 Appendix E How to Help a Sick or Injured Raptor 27 Appendix F References 28

4 PREFACE How to Use This Manual: The main sections in this manual are required reading for new volunteers who are unable to attend a New Volunteer Training in their area. The Appendices include additional helpful information or resources. The entire manual may be used as a refresher or supplement by volunteers who have previously attended a training. Photo by John Johnson 3

5 Section One EagleWatch Program Overview EagleWatch is one of Audubon s premier community science programs. Sponsored by Audubon Florida, EagleWatch began in 1992 in three counties in the Central Florida region with only 22 volunteers and a goal to help protect nesting eagles in our state. Today, the program is statewide, monitoring more nests in more counties each year and continuing to heighten awareness of Bald Eagle nesting activities throughout the state. The Bald Eagle is our nation s symbol and one of the largest and most majestic birds in North America. Bald Eagles are only found on our continent and suffered a dramatic decline in the 1950s due to the widespread use of the pesticide, DDT. The decline prompted federal protection and recovery plans which resulted in a nationwide increase in the population of Bald Eagles. Since DDT was banned in 1972, Florida s nesting eagle population has increased more than 300%, from less than 100 active nests to approximately 1,500 nests today. Florida has one of the largest populations of nesting Bald Eagles in the contiguous United States. After 33 years on the federal list of Threatened and Endangered Species, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) delisted the Bald Eagle in 2007, having declared this species officially recovered. Bald Eagles remain protected by both the state Eagle Rule (68A F.A.C.) and federal laws, including the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. For additional information about eagle protections, see Section 5 Bald Eagle Protections, Human Activity and Nest Disturbances or Appendix A: Regulations for the Protection of Bald Eagles (FWC, USFWS). EagleWatch Program Goals 1. Collect data on eagle nesting activity throughout Florida. 2. Work with stakeholders to improve eagle management in Florida. Stakeholders include: a. Local, state, and federal government b. Private landowners and public land managers c. Utility companies such as cellular service providers and power companies d. The public 3. Educate volunteers and the public about eagle biology and conservation needs in Florida. 4. Report disturbances near active eagle nests to state and federal wildlife authorities. EagleWatch Program Outcomes The data collected by EagleWatch Volunteers can help eagles in the following ways: Better understand the needs of Florida s eagles; Identify threats and aid in formulating an appropriate management plan for nests that may be threatened by new or encroaching development; Provide information to assist law enforcement in the event of an Eagle Rule violation; Enable the rescue of eaglets that have fallen from their nests; Confirm or enhance the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission s nesting activity and productivity data; Discover and document previously unrecorded nests. 4

6 Section Two Volunteer Job Description Summary of Position As an EagleWatch volunteer, you ll be responsible for monitoring a specific nest(s) for the duration of the nesting season (October-May) and reporting your data in our online nest database. The EagleWatch Program Manager or local county coordinator will work with you to identify one or more nest(s) that are convenient for you to monitor. Training Audubon Florida EagleWatch Volunteer Trainings are scheduled at the start of the nesting season and are held in multiple locations around the state. Attendance at one of these trainings is encouraged for new volunteers. New volunteers who are unable to attend a training in person are required to read this manual or attend an online training to become familiar with program requirements and monitoring protocols. Specific Duties Accurately record the number of Bald Eagles observed at assigned nest(s), distinguishing the difference between adults and juveniles. Recognize different stages of breeding behavior (nest building, incubation, fledging). Accurately record data in the EagleWatch Nest Database, including volunteer hours, and enter observations in a timely manner. Identify banded eagles and report visible color-band combinations on banded birds. Report new nests or nest relocations to the EagleWatch Program Manager. Document and report nest or eagle disturbance issues to the EagleWatch Program Manager and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Alert Hotline ( ). Requirements Attend a New Volunteer Training, or when attendance is not possible, read the Volunteer Training Manual to become familiar with program requirements and monitoring protocols. Ability to work outdoors and commit to monitoring assigned nest(s) from October to May or until the young fledge. Ability to visit assigned nest(s) every two weeks for at least 20 minutes per visit and submit observations in the EagleWatch Nest Database. Binoculars or a spotting scope are required for nest monitoring. Federal monitoring guidelines suggest maintaining a distance of 330 feet from an active nest (see Appendix D EagleWatch Nest Monitoring Etiquette). Several websites offer guidance for choosing good equipment in varying price ranges, or refer to Appendix F References for Audubon s recommendations. Obey all Private Property or No Trespassing signs, along with all other applicable laws. Length of Program Monitors are requested to observe their assigned nest for the duration of the breeding season, which typically runs from October to May in Florida. Active nests must be monitored until the young fledge, which may occur as early as February or, in rare cases, as late as July. Inactive nests should be monitored through May to confirm inactivity. 5

7 Volunteer Guidelines EagleWatch plays a critical role in maintaining a stable population of Bald Eagles in Florida. It is important to follow these guidelines when representing Audubon s EagleWatch Program: Respect your commitment. If you are unable to monitor your assigned nest for the entire season or until the young fledge, please contact the EagleWatch Program Manager as soon as possible so another volunteer may be assigned to your nest(s). Nests that are not monitored for the entire season or until fledging must be excluded from our dataset. Be courteous. Every encounter with another person should be seen as an opportunity to educate the public. Even when someone is doing the wrong thing, a courteous approach will produce the best results. Be respectful. We have many partners in EagleWatch and various levels of involvement. We are grateful for those partnerships, so please remain respectful. Be professional. EagleWatch volunteers are the face of the EagleWatch Program, but also represent both Audubon and Bald Eagles. As such, volunteers should behave in a professional manner whenever in the field, doing outreach or advocating for Florida s Bald Eagles. Appendix D covers important Nest Monitoring Etiquette and is required reading for all volunteers. Some volunteers find it beneficial to take copies of this document with them when monitoring to hand out as an education piece to others who may be present at the nest. Photography. While photography is not discouraged at your nest, it should not be the primary goal of your visit. Photographers must maintain all proper monitoring distances and set a good example for others. Volunteers who routinely engage in any prohibited behavior may be removed from the program. Stewardship As an EagleWatch Volunteer you will often serve as a first line of defense for the eagles. While you are observing your nest, look around for human activities that could affect the eagles and their nest, such as people approaching too close to the nest in violation of federal laws or buffer guidelines that advise that no activity occur within 330 feet of an active nest during the breeding season. Other things to note include construction markers close to the nest, new For Sale or development notice signs on the property, tree clearing in the vicinity of the nest, or cell towers that lack proper signage notifying workers of the nest presence. Volunteers are not responsible for enforcing the state and federal laws that protect eagles. That is the role of FWC Law Enforcement. Volunteers should immediately contact FWC at , x7 to report activity that is actively disturbing eagles from their nest or any threats to existing nest trees. FWC will dispatch a law enforcement officer to investigate. Signs that eagles are disturbed include repeated vocalizations and flushing from the nest, or flying in circles over the nest. Please also notify the EagleWatch Program Manager of the potential disturbance issue at your nest. FWC law enforcement must capture the disturbance in progress or have photo or video evidence of the disturbance in order to issue a citation for violation of the federal Eagle Rule. Any photos or video documentation you are able to capture as you wait for the arrival of the officer will help support the case. Reporting New Nests If you find a new or undocumented nest, please report the location information to the EagleWatch Program Manager who will work with FWC to document the nest, obtain a nest ID, and add it to the EagleWatch Nest Database for reporting. Nests must be documented and receive an ID from FWC in order to be monitored by EagleWatch. Approximate GPS coordinates are needed to document the nest. Please contact the EagleWatch Program Manager for instructions for obtaining GPS coordinates if you are unfamiliar with the process. 6

8 EagleWatch Website and Facebook Group EagleWatch maintains a volunteer resource website at The website includes links to the Volunteer Nest Map, the EagleWatch Nest Survey form, the training manual and other important information on eagles and their biology. The website is password protected and new volunteers will receive the login information after completing training. EagleWatch also has a closed Facebook group (search for Audubon EagleWatch). The group is only open to active volunteers and approval is required to join. The group is a great forum for sharing nest photos, monitoring experiences, or asking general questions. Any time-sensitive information or questions that require an immediate response from the Program Manager should be ed to eaglewatch@audubon.org rather than posted in the Facebook group. Volunteers may share their nest observations on Facebook, but this is not a substitute for submitting observations in the nest database (see Section 4). Nest data posted on Facebook is not formerly tracked or compiled. Contacts Questions or concerns may be directed to Audubon s EagleWatch Program Manager during normal office hours, Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00, at or by at eaglewatch@audubon.org. Section 3 contains additional Emergency Contact information. Some counties also have a local county coordinator, an experienced volunteer who helps organize the local monitoring effort. Volunteers who live in one of these counties will be contacted by the county coordinator at the start of the nesting the season. County coordinators will also be in touch throughout with any updates pertinent to their location. County coordinators are an excellent resource for local questions or concerns. Section Three EagleWatch Monitoring Protocols The purpose of nest monitoring is to collect nest productivity data that may be used to better understand the conservation needs of Florida s Bald Eagle population and the threats they face. Nest Identification FWC documents and maps all Bald Eagle nests in Florida using an ID that incorporates a two letter code representing the county the nest is in plus a unique 3-digit number, such as OR042. New nests are first given a temporary ID by FWC until the nest can be validated and assigned a permanent ID. Temporary ID numbers start with a 9 after the county code, such as SE978. FWC maintains an online nest map but their map only reflects nests with permanent ID s. EagleWatch maintains a nest map that incorporates all nest shown on the FWC map but also nests with temporary ID s. The public EagleWatch Nest Map may be accessed from the EagleWatch Information Page. When FWC assigns a permanent ID to a nest with a temporary ID, the EagleWatch Program Manager will notify all monitors for that nest regarding the change in ID. Nest Assignment The Audubon EagleWatch Program Manager, or your county coordinator where applicable, will work with you to locate a nest(s) for you to monitor for the season. You may use the search feature in the EagleWatch Nest Map to view your assigned nest(s), or to confirm the nest ID or location for any nests you find while out in the field. The nest map provides GPS coordinates for all nests, which may be plugged into any mapping application on your smartphone, tablet or a handheld GPS device for driving or walking directions to help you locate the nest. Please note that some of the GPS coordinates were gathered by FWC during aerial surveys and may be off by up to a.10 mile. If you don t see the nest at the mapped location, check the tallest trees in the vicinity for evidence of the nest. 7

9 It is common for 1-3 EagleWatch volunteers to be assigned to a nest. This results in a richer reporting of nest activities as different monitors will see different things on different visits. If a nest already has sufficient monitoring coverage, no additional monitors will be assigned to prevent excessive nest site visits and disturbance to the nesting pair. Visiting the Nest(s) If the nest location appears to be in a secluded area, plan to take a partner with you. Volunteers are not expected to continue monitoring a nest in an unsafe location, or one that is not monitorable from a public area. Volunteers are asked to visit their nest once every two weeks during the breeding season for at least 20 minutes per visit. More frequent nest visits may be made under certain circumstances, but generally volunteers should visit no more than once every 3-5 days to avoid disturbing the nesting pair. Monitors may elect to remain at the nest for more than 20 minutes if needed to order to confirm the presence of adults or young at the nest. On your first visit, it s important to verify that the nest you are monitoring matches the location shown on the nest map for that ID. If the location of the nest you are watching is more than.10 mile off from the location on the map, you may be watching a new or relocated nest. Please contact the EagleWatch Program Manager if you think this is the case. If your nest is in a neighborhood or on private property, introduce yourself if appropriate and strive to build a positive relationship. These individuals can often supply a wealth of information about historical nesting activity of the birds on their property and their assistance may be needed in the future for eagle rescues or releases. If you do not observe any eagles at the nest by January, please continue to visit the area once every 4-6 weeks for the remainder of the season and report your observations, even if no eagles are seen. Not all eagles return to their territories at the same time, and late arrivals may still show up and build nests and produce young as late as April. Observation Methods FWC Guidelines suggests maintaining a viewing distance of 330 feet from an active nest during the breeding season to avoid disturbing the nest. For urban nests already surrounded by existing human activity, it may be possible to observe closer than 330 feet, but do not approach too close to the nest or do anything to upset the birds if the nest appears active (fresh branches added, lots of feces underneath, both adults seen in the area). For nests in remote or rural locations, it may be necessary to observe even further away than 330 feet to avoid disturbing the birds. If the birds flee and vocalize, they are disturbed and you must make your observations from a more distant point. Upon arrival at the nest site, use binoculars to scan the area to see if eagles are present. Like all birds, they can become quite predictable once you re familiar with their activities. Eagles typically have a favorite tree close to the nest upon which they perch and maintain vigilant guard over their nestlings. If searching for a nest, the direction you see adults flying can provide clues for the location as they often use the same paths to fly to and from the nest. Important Monitoring Notes 8 Private Property. It is critical that you obey posted NO TRESPASSING signs and private property postings. All nests should be viewed from a public right of way unless expressly given permission to access the property by the owner. Do not go through gates or over fences near a nest site without permission from the land owner. Some nests may not be accessible or viewable for monitoring. If the nest is not visible from a public area, please let the EagleWatch Program Manager know so we can document the nest as unmonitorable.

10 Nests in Residential Areas. Some nests may be in neighborhoods or in a homeowner s yard. Be sensitive to residents and homeowners in these areas and do not make excessive or lengthy nest site visits. Do not bring additional guests with you to view these nests or park in driveways or walk in yards without permission. Find an unobtrusive spot to monitor the nest and be aware of the amount of time you spend looking through binoculars directed towards private residences. Gated Communities. Permission must be obtained from a resident or the property manager to access a gated community for nest monitoring. Volunteers may not sneak in behind residents at gated communities. Nest on Cell Towers. Cell towers are private property. It is essential that you never enter into the fenced area at the base of any tower. Only employees of the tower owner can enter there. Every tower should have a sign on the fence noting the tower number and who owns the tower as well as the pertinent contact information. Please make note of this information in case of emergency. If you see an injured eagle within the fenced area, call the number on the sign to request assistance, or contact the EagleWatch Program Manager if you are unable to reach the tower owner. For further instructions, see Section 3 Emergencies and Rescues or Appendix E How to Help a Sick or Injured Raptor. Be friendly and talk to people that are living or working close to eagle nests. People who live and work in the area see the eagles daily and can be a rich source of historical and current information about the nesting pair. Key Observations NEST CONSTRUCTION: You may observe eagles building a nest from scratch or making nestorations, which is adding fresh material to an existing nest. Both adults will bring sticks to the nest, with the female taking primary responsibility for stick placement. As they prepare to lay eggs, they will begin bringing soft materials, such as Spanish moss, to line the nest bowl. INCUBATION: This stage follows nest construction and is characterized by the continual presence of one adult sitting low in the middle of the nest. The start of incubation should be reported in your nest observations. Incubation lasts for about 35 days. Both parents share incubation duties, typically swapping shifts first thing in the morning and again before sunset. Note: if the nest is particularly deep, you may not be able to see the incubating adult in the nest and could falsely assume the nest is abandoned. Volunteers should continue to visit a nest every 4-6 weeks to confirm the nest status. HATCHING: Try to determine when the eggs hatch and report this date. When young have hatched, adults typically sit higher in the nest, sheltering the young. Egg(s) have definitely hatched if adults are seen bringing food to the nest, tearing it up and dipping down into the nest to feed young eagles. It can take up to two-four weeks before you may actually see the eaglets above the rim of the nest bowl. Sometimes eggs may fail to hatch due to being infertile or because of genetic or environmental issues. BROODING YOUNG: Young eaglets cannot regulate their body temperature and require constant brooding by an adult for the first few weeks of life. Once eggs have hatched, one eagle will be at the nest at all times for the next few weeks. GROWTH PHASE: Once the eaglets can regulate their own body temperature, the adults will spend more time away from the nest. This phase can be misleading as it may appear that the nest is empty or inactive if the young are still too small to be seen and your observation times doesn t coincide with adults bringing food to the nest. Continued observations for the next 4-6 weeks are important to confirm the nest status. 9

11 You should eventually begin to see young peeking over the edge of the nest, moving around in the nest or engaging in sibling rivalry if more than 1 chick is present. BRANCHING: In the weeks before the eaglets fledge, they will spend time flapping and hopping to the branches surrounding the nest. FLEDGING: The number of eaglets that survive to fledge (leave the nest) is the most important piece of data collected by EagleWatch as this number is used to calculate nest productivity. A fledged eaglet is defined as capable of coordinated, sustained flight. Observations of eaglets flying as well as spotting them in other trees in the vicinity of the nest are excellent indications of successful fledging. As fledging approaches, volunteers may wish to increase their monitoring frequency to once a week if possible. MISSING EAGLETS: If an eaglet is missing from the nest but was too young to have fledged, check to see if adults are present. If no adults are present, you may carefully search beneath the nest and in the surrounding area if possible in case the eaglet has fallen from the nest and needs assistance. If the young eaglet is not found or seen again on multiple subsequent visits, it should be marked as Perished. If it was old enough to have potentially fledged and was otherwise healthy and developing normally on a recent visit, you may assume the eaglet has fledged. If it has been more than a month since your last visit, however, it is not safe to assume the eaglet has fledged. The nest outcome must be marked as unknown and it will be excluded from the end-of-season data analysis. NEST OR EAGLE DISTURBANCE: Be sure to note if you observe any type of work or other disturbance occurring near an active nest. Appendix B has a helpful Decision Tree to determine if action should be taken as well as next steps. The regulations regarding potentially detrimental activities around an eagle nest are extensive and complex. Please see Section 5 and Appendix A for more information. It is important that all EagleWatch volunteers become familiar with the basic protections afforded by state and federal laws and guidelines in order to bring possible violations to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Weather Please check your nest after a bad storm as soon as it is safe to do so. If an eaglet is blown from the nest or the nest or tree has collapsed, the young may need to be rescued and taken to a licensed facility for treatment (see Emergencies and Rescues below). Low-flying Planes/Drones: Federal law prohibits flying any aircraft, including drones, within 1,000 vertical feet of an active eagle during the breeding season. Because of the danger of nest disturbance, volunteers are prohibited from using drones to check nests during the breeding season, except under rare circumstances with express consent from both USFWS and the EagleWatch Program Manager. If you see anyone flying a drone near an active nest, or a low-flying plane making repeated passes over an active nest, please immediately call FWC s Wildlife Alert Emergency Number Also write down any distinguishing features or identification numbers from low-flying planes, which may be reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For more information on reporting low-flying planes to the FAA, please click here. 10 Emergencies and Rescues: In the event of an emergency nest situation (i.e., violations of the federal or state laws protecting the eagles and their nest sites, or if the adults or eaglets are in danger or injured), please document the violation and immediately call the Audubon Florida EagleWatch Manager or your local EagleWatch county coordinators where applicable. They, in turn, will contact FWC and USFWS if necessary. If time is of the essence, you may also call the FWC Wildlife Alert line directly. Please refer to Section V page 14 for additional information about violations and keep the following numbers handy for these situations.

12 EMERGENCY CONTACTS EagleWatch Program Manager/Audubon Center for Birds of Prey: or After-hours eagle emergencies/rescues: Polk county coordinator Reinier Munguia FWC Wildlife Alert Emergency Number , ext. 7 It is normal for some fledglings to spend their first day or two on the ground and the parents will feed and tend to them there. If you have questions about an eaglet on the ground, you may contact the EagleWatch Program Manager or local county coordinator for guidance to determine if it needs help. If you find an injured adult eagle or a young eagle that has fallen from a nest, please contact one of the numbers listed above to request assistance. Even young eagles have sharp talons and can cause serious harm if not handled properly, so any rescue attempt should be performed by someone with experience in handling raptors. Eagles rescued on the ground must be transported to a wildlife rehabilitation facility licensed to treat Bald Eagles within 24 hours. For cell tower nests, please contact the Eaglewatch Program Manager right away if the eaglet is seen perched in the same spot on a level below the nest for more than 2 days in a row, especially if the parents are not able to reach or feed the eaglet on that level. The eaglet may be stuck and require assistance If you believe that a young eaglet in the nest that you monitor is sick or injured, do not attempt to organize a rescue effort. You must call the EagleWatch Program Manager before taking any action as it is illegal to attempt to access an eagle nest without permission from USFWS. USFWS may approve a nest rescue attempt if the injury is related to human factors (eaglet wrapped in fishing line or impaled with a fishing hook, for example). It can take several days to mobilize the permits and resources to attempt a nest rescue so please contact the EagleWatch Program Manager right away for prompt action, with the understanding that in some circumstances, a rescue attempt may not be possible or may not be approved by USFWS. If you find a deceased eagle or if one is reported to you, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at to report the location and request that they retrieve the body for proper disposal and reporting to USFWS. If FWC is unable to retrieve the body, please let your county coordinator or the EagleWatch Program Manager know to can investigate other options for recovery and disposal of the body. Note that all parts of an eagle are protected by federal law, including the feathers, and no part may be kept without a federal permit. Section Four Reporting Your Observations Watching Bald Eagle nests is fun! The most important distinction between simply watching a nest and monitoring a nest for EagleWatch is reporting your observations in the Eaglewatch Nest Database. Reporting observations in the nest database is required for EagleWatch volunteers. Observations must be submitted in our nest database for them to count towards our conservation effort. Those who watch a nest but never submit their observations are not technically participating in EagleWatch. Volunteers may elect to share their nest data on Facebook or other social media sites, but that should not substitute for reporting the data in the database. Information shared on Facebook is not tracked or compiled in any way and thus is lost if not also reported in the EagleWatch Nest Database. What happens if you visit your nest and never see eagles? Zero is a valuable number in conservation. It is important to know both where eagles are nesting as well as where they are not nesting. If your nest does not appear to be active, you may reduce your visiting frequency but you should continue to visit the nest and submit observations once every 4-6 weeks through May as some pairs in Florida have been known to lay eggs as late as April. A report of no activity seen is valuable data and confirms that a nest was truly inactive all season versus unknown due to lack of continuous monitoring. 11

13 EAGLEWATCH NEST DATABASE The EagleWatch Nest Database is only open to active volunteers and has been designed for ease of use and consistency in compilation of data. The Nest Database may be accessed via the web on your home computer or through an app you may download on your smartphone or tablet to enter observations while at the nest. After you have completed training and have received your nest(s) assignment, you will receive an invitation to register to use the online nest database. When you submit your registration request, the Program Manager will approve your request and send you the necessary information to access the database and begin submitting your data. REPORTING ESSENTIALS: All observations are entered under the nest s official ID. For data accuracy, it is important to confirm that you are entering your data under the correct nest ID. If you do not know your nest ID, contact your local county coordinator or the EagleWatch Program Manager at eaglewatch@audubon.org. The observation date and length of your nest visit is used to calculate the total number of volunteer hours donated each season, which is important for grant funding reports. Number of eagles observed refers only to adults seen at the nest. Eagles seen perched in the area or flying overhead should not be reported here. Only eagles seen perching at or in the nest or nest tree should be counted in this field. Number of eaglets observed is the number of eaglets that hatched in the nest that you can physically see above the rim of the nest. You may initially suspect 1 or 2 eaglets have hatched based on adult feeding behavior, but please wait to officially record them here until you can physically see them above the rim of the nest. Any suspected hatchings may be reported in Comments. Number Fledged: the most important piece of data you collect during the nesting season is the number of young that have fledged. A fledged eaglet is defined as capable of coordinated, sustained flight. Observations of eaglets flying, or spotting them in other trees in the vicinity of the nest are excellent indications of successful fledging. As the young approach fledgling age, you may find that the eaglets are gone on your next visit. If the eaglets were at least 8-10 weeks old and appeared healthy and active on the previous visit, a volunteer may presume the eaglets have fledged. If the length of time between the previous visit and finding the eaglets gone is greater than 4 weeks, however, it is not safe to assume the eaglets have successfully fledged and the nest outcome must be marked as unknown. Unfortunately, eaglets with unknown outcomes cannot be counted and the nest must be excluded from the dataset. Number of Young Perished: all eaglets reported as observed must have a final outcome of either fledged or perished. If you have previously reported an eaglet seen in the nest and then stop seeing it on subsequent visits and it was not old enough to have fledged, you should report the eaglet as perished. Comments: this section may be used to record additional details from your nest visit, including an estimation of incubation or hatch date, any changes in nest status, or any important details related to potential nest disturbances or eaglet health/mortality. Other important observations to note here are any evidence of disease or deformity in the young, such as Avian Pox (a viral infection caused by mosquitos that produces wart-like growths on the bare skin around the beak, nares and eyes) or a scissor-beak (where the upper and lower mandible of the beak are crossed). For time sensitive questions or information, please also notify the EagleWatch Program Manager by at eaglewatch@audubon.org as it may be a week or more before comments are reviewed in the database. Zero is an important number! Even if you don t see any adults or young, this is valuable information. Please continue to submit reports of no activity seen at your nest(s) throughout the season. This is necessary to confirm a nest is truly inactive versus unknown for nests that are not monitored for the entire season. 12

14 Review your reports for accuracy. Make sure the nest location and structure type listed for your assigned nest(s) is correct. Be sure you report an outcome for any eaglets you report as seen at your nest. Mistakes happen. If you record an observation under the wrong nest ID or make some other reporting error, notify the EagleWatch Program Manager by to request a correction. Section Five Bald Eagle Protections, Human Activity And Nest Disturbances BALD EAGLE PROTECTIONS Federal statutes in the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act provides criminal penalties for persons who take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle... [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof. The Act defines take as pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb. Disturb means: to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, 1) injury to an eagle, 2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or 3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior. Individual Bald Eagles exhibit considerable variation in response to human activity, depending in part upon the type, frequency and duration of activity, extent of modification of the environment, the point in the bird s reproductive cycle, and various other factors not well understood. Therefore, it cannot be predicted with absolute certainty the effects a given disturbance might have on a particular pair of nesting Bald Eagles. Eagles are most vulnerable to disturbance early in the nesting period, i.e. during courtship, nest building, egg laying, incubation, and brooding (roughly the first 12 weeks of the nesting cycle). Disturbance during this critical period may lead to nest abandonment. During the nest building period, for example, eagles may inadequately construct or repair their nest, or may abandon the nest site, both of which can lead to failed nesting attempts. During the incubation and hatching period, human activities may startle adults or cause them to flush from the nest. Startling can damage eggs or injure young when the adults abruptly leave the nest. Prolonged absences of adults from their nests can jeopardize eggs or young. Eggs may overheat or cool and fail to hatch. Young nestlings rely on their parents to provide warmth or shade, and may die from hypothermia or heat stress if adults are forced away from the nest for an extended period of time. Eggs and juveniles are subject to greater predation risk while they are unattended. If human activities disrupt the adults foraging and feeding schedule, the young may not develop healthy plumage, which can affect their ability to survive. Human activity near a nest later in the season may cause premature fledging of the young. Eaglets may be startled by loud or intrusive human activities and prematurely jump from the nest before they are able to fly or care for themselves, thereby lessening their chance of survival. 13

15 RELATIVE SENSITIVITY OF NESTING BALD EAGLES TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES Phase Activity Sensitivity to Human Activity I Courtship and Nest Most sensitive Building period; likely to respond negatively II Egg laying Very sensitive period Comments Most critical time period. Disturbance is manifested by nest abandonment. Bald Eagles in newly established territories are more prone to abandon nest sites. Human activity of even limited duration may cause nest desertion and abandonment of territory for the nesting season. III Incubation and Hatching Very sensitive period IV Nestling period 4-8 weeks V Nestlings 8 weeks through fledging Moderately sensitive period Very sensitive period Adults are less likely to abandon the nest near and after hatching. However, flushed adults may leave eggs and young unattended. Eggs are susceptible to cooling, loss of moisture, overheating, and predation. Young are vulnerable to elements. Likelihood of nest abandonment and vulnerability of the nestlings to elements gradually decreases. However, nestlings may miss feedings, which may affect their survival, or cause them to prematurely leave the nest due to disruption Gaining flight capability. Nestlings 8 weeks and older may flush from the nest prematurely due to disruption and die. Excerpts from: Human activities that cause any of these responses and leads to injury, a decrease in productivity, or nest abandonment could be considered a disturbance under the USFWS Eagle Act and may constitute a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Act. USFWS may issue a permit to allow for the disturbance of eagles or take of a nest, eggs or young under certain circumstances. Unpermitted take or disturbance of eagles or their nest as described above (and in Appendix A) is a violation of the Eagle Protection Act and perpetrators may be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned from 1 to 2 years or both. It is important to note that if the eagles are not showing signs of disturbance because of activity near their nest, then disturbance as described in the federal Eagle Rule is not occurring and the activity cannot be considered in violation of the law. Please refer to the helpful Decision Tree in Appendix B to help you determine if disturbance or take is occurring. Photos or video documentation of your nest may be necessary for authorities to build a case that take or disturbance has occurred. It is highly suggested to take a baseline photo or video of your nest at the start of the season to show any nest tending or construction activities by the breeding pair, continuing on throughout the season with additional photos or video to document incubation and any chicks that hatch in the nest. 14

16 Section Six Bald Eagle Biology GENERAL OVERVIEW The Bald Eagle is revered as the symbol of America, personifying strength, majesty and independence. When chosen as a national symbol in 1782, it was found abundantly throughout the contiguous United States. By the mid 1900 s, however, the population had drastically declined due to human ignorance and persecution by pesticides, careless shootings, car and powerline collisions and loss of habitat for nesting and foraging. Since DDT was banned in 1972, Florida s eagle population has increased more than 300%. In 2007, Bald Eagles were removed from the Endangered Species list, having been declared officially recovered. Today, Bald Eagles are still protected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under state (F.A.C. 68A ) and federal laws (Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act). The Bald Eagle is native to our continent and is one of the largest birds in North America. The Latin name Haliaeetus leucocephalus means white-headed sea eagle, referencing its genus classification. The word bald refers to an old English use of the word meaning white since the head is distinctly feathered. Birds commonly confused with Bald Eagles include Ospreys, Turkey Vultures, and Golden Eagles, the latter of which are rarely sighted in Florida. Like other birds of prey, Bald Eagles exhibit reverse sexual size dimorphism, where females are larger than males. Female eagles in Florida weigh from 8-12 pounds and have a wingspread up to eight feet. Males are smaller, weighing 6-10 pounds, with a wingspread of six feet. Other than the size difference, both sexes look the same, with the characteristic white head and tail, yellow legs and yellow beak and eyes obtained at sexual maturity. Young eagles, called juveniles, have a brown body and beak with yellow legs when they leave the nest. First year birds are also larger than adults due to having longer wing and tail feathers. It takes four to six years for young eagles to get their white head and tail. Immature and subadult are terms referring to plumage sequences after the first year and before adulthood and are characterized by various stages of brown and white mottled feathers and the transition from a brown beak and eyes to a yellow beak and eyes. Adaptations: Keen eyesight that can identify objects three to four times farther away than humans, operating much like a telescope for focusing, powerful feet and claws called talons to capture and kill prey, an elongated beak with a sharp tip adept at tearing food and well-developed muscles in the legs that aid in prey destruction. Eagles tear and swallow their food in large pieces, temporarily storing it in an area below the throat called the crop before actual digestion. When full, the crop is a noticeable bulge that can store over two pounds of prey when food is plentiful. Vocalizations: An eagle s call is quite distinctive, ranging from a short staccato note, a whining call, and a high pitched scream of descending notes. Vocalizations serve several purposes including greeting, solicitation, territorial defense, threat, and begging calls for food (juveniles). Longevity: The oldest known eagle in the wild was 38 at the time of death, although average life span of a wild adult is believe to be years. In captivity, the oldest known eagle was 50 when it passed. Eagles follow a pattern typical of raptors, with lower juvenile survival followed by increasing survival into adulthood. Diet: Eagles are opportunistic scavengers with a prey base that includes fish, squirrels, wading birds, ducks, amphibians, reptiles and carrion (deceased animals). Eagles are also known to steal fish from osprey in spectacular aerial displays. 15

17 Threats and Territorial Fights The Bald Eagle has no natural predators. Their main enemy is humans. Causes of bald eagle mortality include collisions with cars and power lines, electrocution, fishing line/hook entanglements, gunshot wounds and poisoning due to food contamination. Lead toxicity from consuming prey items that have been shot with lead bullets is a preventable cause of death if bullets are converted to non-lead material. biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/get_the_lead_out/. Eagles may also succumb to avian pox, a mosquito borne illnesses. Loss of nesting and foraging habitat through urban development seriously jeopardizes nesting success for eagles in Florida. These birds are strongly territorial, particularly during nesting season, and are known to engage in fierce battles over nesting habitats, leading to injury and even death. In the last decade, Florida has seen an increase in eagle mortality and injury due to territorial fights as available nesting habitat shrinks as a result of habitat loss and increased development. Although eagles are social during the non-nesting season, intraspecies fighting with aggressive aerial territory battles can occur among eagles throughout the nesting season. Territorial defense behavior includes: Threat Vocalization: one or both adults will emit a high pitched scream, often repeatedly, at the trespassing eagle. Circling Display: the defenders will soar over the unwanted eagle until it leaves the area. Note: you may observe this display if an immature eagle in non-threatening plumage enters the nesting area. Territorial Chase: this is one of the most common and potentially dangerous of all territorial displays. Territory defenders pursue the invader until he/she leaves the area or a fight ensues. This can be a fight to the death. Typically, talon wounds are inflicted on the legs, lower abdomen, chest and head areas, and in severe disputes, mortality may occur. When mature (age 4-5), eagles often return to the vicinity of their original nest site to breed. An area s carrying capacity is reached when the habitat is saturated with eagles for the amount of food and nest sites that it can support. This causes a natural dispersal of birds into new areas for breeding, including expanding historic ranges and use of non-traditional (artificial structure) nest sites in urban areas. General Nesting Information The nesting season in Florida generally lasts from October through May, although a handful of pairs may fledge young as late as June and July each season. Nests are typically located in a live pine or cypress tree within 2 miles of water and are of often reused year after year, with some pairs of eagles using an alternate nest within their defined territory. Man-made structures including cellular towers, powerline towers, osprey platforms and stadium lights are increasingly being utilized as nest substrates due to loss of suitable nesting habitat. It is not uncommon for nests to be damaged or destroyed by storms, after which the eagles typically will rebuild and nest in the same area. Bald Eagle nests are legally protected and may not be removed without a federal permit. Nest Size: Bald Eagles build the largest nest of any bird in North America. These nests may be reused annually by the same pair of birds and increase in size accordingly to the length of time they have been occupied. The largest recorded nest was in Florida, measuring over eight feet across, nearly eighteen feet tall, and weighing almost two tons. A typical nest, however, ranges from four to five feet in diameter across and three to four feet tall and is often described as the size of a queen-sized mattress in a tree. Due to their large wingspan, eagles need more room to maneuver when taking off or landing at the nest and thus favor nest trees or structures that are taller than the surrounding habitat for ease of access. 16

18 Typically Bald Eagles in Florida prefer to nest on Long-leaf Pine, but may also use Bald Cypress and Live Oaks. Eagles nesting on man-made structures may not build large nests like those nesting on trees. Eagle s nests on man-made structures are often confused with Osprey nests like the one above, as they tend to be shallow and small. Osprey nests are often misidentified as eagle nests and are generally located on the tops of dead trees or man-made structures. Eagles may also use both of these as nest structures but prefer live trees with a canopy providing shade overhead. Nest Site Fidelity/Alternate Nest Use: A pair of eagles will generally return to the same nest year after year, known as nest site fidelity. In most but not all cases, eagles will have more than one nest within their breeding territory, called an alternate nest. The usual number of alternate nests averages from 1-2. The most commonly accepted explanation for this occurrence is that the alternate nest serves as insurance in case the primary nest is destroyed early in the nesting season. Nest Construction: Once a suitable nest tree has been selected, both birds will gather branches and sticks and begin constructing the nest or adding new materials if a nest already exists. The branches are woven together by the female, much like the weaving of a basket. New nest construction can take less than a week, but maintenance on the nest occurs throughout the entire nesting season, and nestorations may also occur after young have fledged in preparation for the next season. The nest cup, or small depression where the eggs are laid in the middle of the nest, is lined with soft vegetation, with Spanish moss being the most common material. The nest cup is generally 1-2 feet in diameter with a depression of about four inches. In the final stages of nest construction the adults bring grass or Spanish Moss to line the nest cup. Alternate Nests: Bald Eagles often use alternate nests in different years. Although all nests used by a given pair are situated in the same general vicinity, some nests go unused for several consecutive years and therefore may appear abandoned. Even a solitary nest can go unused for several years, often due to the death of one member of the resident pair, and then be re-occupied by either the original pair or one member of the original pair with a new mate. Both in-use and alternate nests are protected by federal law. Perch Trees: Bald Eagles spend nearly 90% of their daylight hours perching, making perch trees an important consideration in an eagle s selection of a breeding territory. There are often a number of favorite trees located within each pair s territory, often serving different functions. Some trees are used as sentry perches, providing lookout points. Eagles will simply loiter or rest on other perches, or utilize them to hunt or forage from. Trees with heavy foliage are most commonly used while eating, providing the eagle with cover to hide its prey from other birds. 17

19 Courtship Displays: Vocal Displays: One or both birds will call to the other while perched or flying. While perched, this is usually a loud scream, and the head is tilted back in a vertical position. Chase Displays: The two eagles will pursue each other in the air, sometimes in rapid dives or just erratic flights. Often one will fly upside down beneath the other and touch talons. Occasionally, they will grab talons and go into a roll, exchanging places in flight. Cartwheel Display: The most spectacular of all courtship displays! The pair flies to great altitude, locks their talons together, and falls towards earth spinning and whirling in a series of cartwheels. The pair separates as they near land or water and often ascend back skyward, lock talons and repeat the display. Immature eagles will perform many of these flights in nesting and non-nesting season. They may be playing, exercising or perfecting these flights for future use. Mature eagles may lock talons in a territory fight and on rare occasion will not unlock before striking earthy, resulting in injury or death. The inverted flight is part of the pair bonding process, occasionally it is used to deliver food to the mate, and it can be the beginning of a cartwheel display. COPULATION It is a common misconception that eagle copulation occurs in mid-air during the cartwheel display, but it actually occurs on a tree branch (sometimes following the courting flights). The act takes place after the birds have been perched together for a while, although active nest-building can precede it. The female generally begins by assuming a solicitation posture, either perched on a branch or on the nest, holding her body in a horizontal position with her head forward and her wings slightly apart. She will then vocalize to and sometimes even prod the male, soliciting his services. In response, the male mounts the female s back, with his talons curled inwards to avoid injury, and copulation occurs as he dips his tail to align his cloaca with hers for sperm transfer. Rapid vocalizations and wing flapping accompany this action. Copulation takes place in as little as five to fifteen seconds and may occur several times a day. Copulation may occur without egg laying, but the frequency of copulation increases in the week before the laying of the first egg. EGGS AND INCUBATION Egg laying begins as early as November and can occur even into April if the first nesting attempts are unsuccessful. Bald Eagle eggs are dull white in color, rough in texture and resemble the shape of a rounded extra-large chicken egg. Clutch size (the number of eggs) is generally dependent upon availability of food and can vary from one to three, although two is the most common. Eggs are laid several days apart, with eaglets hatching on different days, resulting in siblings of various sizes. Eggs begin to hatch after a day incubation period. Bald Eagles normally lay just one clutch of eggs each season, but if the first nesting attempt is unsuccessful, the birds may recycle, laying a second clutch of eggs as late as April. Incubation, the act of providing warmth to increase embryonic metabolism and tissue development, begins after the appearance of the first egg and is a shared duty by male and female Bald Eagles. Nesting adults will pluck a brood or incubation patch on their lower breast and abdomen to increase vascular circulation and aid in heat transference to the eggs. This patch is only found during the nesting season and is not usually visible to the naked eye, being covered by adjacent feathers. 18 Eggs are rotated almost every hour as the adult eagle shifts position in the nest or rearranges nesting material. This turning and distribution of heat is essential for proper embryonic development and prevents the

20 membranes from adhering to the inside of the eggshell. Eagle eggs are rarely left unattended for more than 15 minutes and may be covered by soft nesting material in an adult s brief absence. The continual presence of an adult in the nest is a good indication that incubation has commenced. The incubation posture of the adult eagle is extremely low in the middle of the nest and can make it difficult for the adult to be seen from the ground. Indeed, in nests with a very deep cup, the adult may not be visible at all. As a result, some nests have incorrectly been marked as failed or inactive during this phase. Since incubation is a shared effort, shift changes may be the only time a monitor can confirm the nest is active as one adult flies off and another onto the nest to resume egg care. Shift changes typically occur first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. The incoming adult will walk around the rim of the nest, clench its talons firmly in a ball, and gently step into the nest cup. As the adult lowers itself, it often sways side to side to cover the eggs and settles into the incubating posture. Rearranging of the nesting materials then always follows, with the smaller males tucking substrate closer to their bodies to retain heat and the females adjusting the nest cup to accommodate their larger size. HATCHING The cheeping of the eaglet inside the shell is a sign to the adult that the hatching process will begin soon and that breathing with the lungs has begun. Hearing this sound often stimulates the adults to bring food to the nest in preparation for a hungry nestling. The eaglet can breathe for a short time from the air chamber inside the eggshell, but must soon pip, or break a hole through the eggshell, to survive. Pipping is aided by the egg tooth, a point on the top of the beak, which breaks the egg from the inside. Strong head and neck muscles assist the eaglet in this continuous effort as it rotates inside the shell in a circular motion, creating a series of holes around the egg. Finally, the exhausted eaglet struggles its way out of the shell, soon ready for its first meal. It can take from five hours or up to two days from the moment the egg is pipped until the eaglet makes its first appearance. During this time, adults may be observed standing tall and peering intently into the nest. Eggs may fail to hatch for a number of reasons, including lack of fertilization, or death of the embryo due to genetic or environmental factors. EAGLET GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Eaglets are one of the fastest growing birds in North America, growing from 100 grams to 4,000-5,000 grams within three months. Eaglets are considered semi-altricial, that is, they are born covered with down, with eyes open, but are confined to the nest and dependent on their parents for food and shelter. Most of the early developmental growth occurs in body tissues. Later gains in weight occur as their feather plumage grows. There are three terms commonly used in the description of young eaglets: hatchling, nestling, and fledgling. 10 days 21 days 28 days 49 days 96 days 2 years 3 years 5 years Images Courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department 19