Ken -
Your explanation was very helpful and it is very complex. Some eagles always migrating, some roaming, multiple populations all following different routes. I knew eagles from way up North had to travel south in winter to eat, but we used to live in Newburyport, Mass. There Mass Audubon holds the annual "Merrimack River Eagle Festival" in February. I learned there that Mass had its own resident eagles, descendants of reintroduced eaglets brought from Michigan in the early 90s, that didn't have to leave, but as you say, they roamed around after nesting season and are rarely seen in late summer. The Merrimack River never freezes completely, but as the ice narrows it up, it focuses the eagles at the mouth of the river and they can be easily seen fishing the tidal waters, an amazing sight really, because their northern cousins come south too, increasing the numbers of eagles seen in the winter dramatically. Thank you for the detailed explanation!! Regards - Kelly Kelly Heffernan SFAS's Project Perch (978) 412-5313 > *Kelly asked about the locally-nesting eagles here in NE Illinois. Yes, these > tend to stay in the area or move south along the river system depending upon > the severity of the winter. A very timely question, as I had been planning > to write a blog on this subject. > Bald Eagles have complicated migration habits, differing by age of the birds, geographic location and the effects of weather and climate. Their dependence upon fish as a dietary staple figures in on their seasonal movements, as open water is essential and cooler water more desirable, especially for younger birds as it causes the fish to move nearer the surface, making them easier to catch. Adults seem to want to stay around and > defend their territory during the non-breeding season while young birds travel more widely. > Northernmost Bald Eagles such as those in northern Canada typically fly south during the winter, with juveniles and immature birds leading the exodus. They congregate in coastal areas or large rivers and lakes that are > not iced over. In the Northwest, the timing of the salmon run influences post-breeding movement, as many move northward and northwest in late summer, > join Alaskan birds following the spawning salmon southward along the coast, > then linger through the relatively mild winters along the Pacific coast. Bald Eagles from the North Central states such as those at our local nest > in > NE Illinois will wander locally as conditions permit. When winter sets in, > eagles from the north join them, especially at dams and locks along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. While Illinois has only about 30-40 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles, the state's winter population is commonly over 3000 individuals from December through March. > In the Northeast US, Bald Eagles fly south in fall (August through December) > along the Appalachian mountains or follow the Atlantic coast. Many congregate in Chesapeake Bay, and are joined by migrants, mostly immature > birds from more southerly locations. Some Florida immature eagles have been > tracked as far north as New England, returning to Florida in > October-December. Adult Bald Eagles in south Florida tend to wander in the > vicinity of the nesting territory during the non-breeding season (July through September). > Generally, Bald Eagles that nest in the lower 1/3 of the US (below 40 degrees latitude) are said to have less north-south migratory movement. * > ----- > Ken Schneider > Web site: http://rosyfinch.com > Blog: http://rosy-finch.blogspot.com > _______________________________________________ > If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below: > http://bald-eagles-of-broward-county-florida.1638815.n2.nabble.com/Eagles-near-my-second-home-in-Illinois-tp7573630p7573632.html To start a new topic under Eagle and Wildlife Events and News From Near and Far, email [hidden email] > To unsubscribe from Bald Eagles of Broward County, Florida, visit |
Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |