Bald Eagle Count

This winter families can participate in conservation and species preservation while helping out as citizen scientists!

Along with Audubon’s December Christmas Bird Count comes a second opportunity to participate as a citizen scientist while observing bird populations in your area.  The Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) conducts an annual survey of Bald Eagle sightings during January- this year’s dates are the 4th through 18th.

Citizen participation in the survey is important because Bald Eagle populations have been increasing, making it more difficult for DFW workers to ensure that all Bald Eagles have been accounted for.  The department’s website offers a fact sheet on Bald Eagles to help prepare citizen scientists for sightings.

If you see a Bald Eagle, report the sighting by e-mailing with the date, time, location, and time of the sighting along with the number and age (juvenile or adult) of the birds to mass.wildlife@state.ma.us.  Sighting submissions can also be mailed to: Eagle Survey, MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581.

[Photo credit: (ccl) Eric Bégin]