Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagel is a large eagle that is a blackish colour with a white head and tail and a heavy yellow bill. The call is a squeaky cackling with thin squeals The bald eagle breeds from Alaska east across Canada and south to California. Winters are spent along coasts and large rivers in much of the United States. Bald eagles inhabit the lakes, rivers, marshes and seacoasts in British Columbia. The nest of bald eagles is made of sticks in a tall tree or on top of a cliff; here 2 or 3 white eggs are laid. This bird is primarily a fish eater but also eats carrion and crippled waterfowl. This beachcombing habit has contributed to its downfall, as it accumulated pesticides from contaminated fish and wildlife. Growing human populations have reduced the population of bald eagles greatly due to expanding urban areas although an intense recovery plan appears to be increasing its numbers.

General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

Issues:

• Lack of data on population dynamics in Sub Region
• There may be herbicide spraying in regions in the Sub Region that may be affecting birds that eat or depend on the sprayed plants

Goals:

• Implement studies to determine population dynamics and threats
• Determine where and when herbicide spraying occurs, and what plant species are being treated
• Determine if the herbicide spraying is affecting bald eagle populations