Birdwatchers Count Eagles

Last year, a statewide count showed there were nearly 700 bald eagles and 127 golden eagles in the state.

A similar count continues this year through the end of next week, and what bird-watchers and scientists find will help with land-use decisions.

‘These birds are excellent indicators of the health of the ecosystem,” said Tim Reynolds of the Environmental Science and Research Foundation.

Representatives of the foundation, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will participate in the count.

The Idaho counts are part of the national Midwinter Eagle Count, now in its 20th year. Since its inception, the count has provided evidence of increasing eagle populations. In response, the bald eagle was downlisted from an endangered to a threatened species in 1995.

On and around the federal research site, the count will be expanded to include sightings of birds of prey including hawks, falcons, owls, ravens and shrikes. Shrikes, which are predatory songbirds known to impale their prey on thorns and barbed wire, are included because of concerns about declining populations.

Last year’s Midwinter Raptor Count at the INEEL showed 91 rough-legged hawks, 89 ravens, 10 golden eagles, 5 northern shrikes, 4 American kestrels, 2 bald eagles and 1 each of prairie falcon and merlin.