Chatham tops for eagles

Chatham County is number one in the state again for the number of bald eagle nests found countywide, with a tally of 27 nests this year. That's up from 22 last year, also a state high. The next closest county surveyed was McIntosh with 13 nests.

"Bragging rights, correct?" wrote Department of Natural Resources survey leader Bob Sargent.

Chatham's total included a rare ground nest discovered among the wrack on Cabbage Island, southwest of Tybee Island. That was the first known ground nest of a bald eagle recorded in Georgia. It didn't contribute to the fledgling totals, however. The nest failed sometime in late March.

Three to four other nests were either substantially damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma last fall. However, 11 new nests were found, including five on the coast.

Earlier this year Sargent checked for nests by helicopter and counted nearly 110 eagle nesting territories in the six coastal counties and an area bounded roughly by interstates 16 and 85 and the South Carolina line. Those nests fledged an estimated 127 young.

Those totals represent only about half of the state. That's because this year DNR switched from flying the entire state annually to only half. The change maintains standardized monitoring while syncing with the raptor’s range-wide comeback and mirroring slimmed-down eagle counts in some neighboring states, Sargent said. It's also cheaper, freeing money for other conservation projects, including a recent search for peregrine falcon nests in north Georgia.

Chatham County, with plenty of tall pine trees for nesting and abundant access to fish-filled waters, has topped the list for years, even when the entire state is surveyed.

Despite the birds' apparent success, conserving eagles is still important, said Sargent, a program manager with DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section. Bald eagles are state-listed as threatened and remain a priority in the State Wildlife Action Plan, a guiding strategy to restore and protect native species and natural habitats.

“We determined that cutting the survey effort by 50 percent would not compromise our ability to identify and address a decline in productivity of our nesting eagles, should it occur," he said. "That was the most crucial consideration.”

Almost 30 years ago, the Southeastern recovery plan for bald eagles set a goal of 20 nests for the state. DNR documented more than ten times that amount last year, when Sargent found a state-record 218 active nests. That was the third straight year the total topped 200.

Many factors have fueled the bald eagle’s recovery: a U.S. ban on DDT use in 1972, habitat improvements after enactment of the federal Clean Water and Clean Air acts, protection through the Endangered Species Act, increased public awareness, restoration of local populations through release programs, and forest regrowth.

Yet even with their rebound, eagles still face threats, ranging from a disease called avian vacuolar myelinopathy, spread through the water birds mainly non-coastal eagles prey on, to being shot by people and hit by cars.

The Nongame Conservation Section monitors eagle nesting through aerial surveys in January and again in March and April. The initial flights are focused on finding all active nests: those with eggs, eaglets, an adult in an incubating posture or evidence that eagles have been prepping the nest for use. The second round of surveys is aimed at determining the reproductive outcome of those nests and checking recently reported new nests.

The public is encouraged to report eagle nests via www.georgiawildlife.com/bald-eagle, (478) 994-1438 or bob.sargent@dnr.ga.gov. One tip: Osprey nests are sometimes confused with eagles’. If unsure, check out the differences online, including at http://bit.ly/2ptuRtm.

DNR works with landowners to help protect bald eagle nests on private property. Although de-listed from the Endangered Species Act in 2007, eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and state law. In Georgia, the species is state-listed as threatened.

Georgians can help by buying or renewing a DNR eagle or hummingbird license plate. Most of the $25 fee is dedicated to wildlife. Learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/licenseplates. Supporters can also donate at www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com. Click “Licenses and Permits” and log in to give. (New customers can create an account.) Details at www.georgiawildlife.com/donations.

2018 tally of active nests by coastal county:

Chatham: 27 (22 in 2017)

Bryan: 4

Liberty: 11

McIntosh: 13

Glynn: 7

Camden: 12

While the 2018 survey covered the state from the coast to northeast Georgia, eagle nests in areas not usually checked were reported and monitored by volunteers and DNR staff. Survey leader Bob Sargent also checked nearly half of the known nests in northwest Georgia while flying to look for peregrine falcon aeries. The totals:

Six coastal counties (including barrier islands): 79 occupied nest territories, with 64 fledging at least one eaglet (81 percent success rate) and 95 young fledged (1.2 per occupied territory).

Northeastern area (I-16 to the south, I-85 to the north and west, and the Savannah River to the east and northeast, excluding Savannah): 28 occupied nest territories, with 19 fledging at least one eaglet (68 percent success rate) and 32 young fledged (1.1 per occupied territory).

Total (including data from volunteer and staff monitors): 123 occupied nest territories, with 97 fledging at least one eaglet (79 percent success rate—which is on the upper end of the average long-term range) and 147 young fledged (1.2 per occupied territory, the long-term average).

Source: Georgia DNR

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