Statewide count of eagles moves to region today

January 13, 2012

By Times Staff

NEWBURYPORT — Officials from the state Department of Fish and Game's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will have their eyes turned to the sky today for the annual bald eagle survey of the coast and major rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

MassWildlife staff and a team of volunteers will be along the Merrimack River at Cashman Park boat ramp on Merrimac Street and at Deer Island adjacent to the Chain Bridge in an effort to get a count of the local eagle population.

The Massachusetts survey, which goes from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is part of an annual nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey that began Jan. 4 and runs through Jan. 18.

The results are used to track eagle population trends.

While bald eagle sightings have been fairly sparse along the Merrimack River this winter, a large number of the great birds have been delighting residents on Lake Attitash, which straddles Amesbury and Merrimac and is situated about 11/2 miles north of the Merrimack. Up to three eagles have been spotted at one time on the 360-acre lake.

The raptors have also been spotted on Cape Ann in the last few years.

Eagles have become more common in this region, in part due to the increase in nests. There are four documented eagle nests in the region — one in West Newbury and three in Haverhill. A new nest on the Powow River in Amesbury was reported earlier this month. That nest is being investigated and will be documented by state wildlife officials, who placed baffles around the lower parts of the tree to prevent predators from climbing up to the nests.

Local wildlife experts say sightings of bald eagles should rise along the Merrimack River as temperatures get colder in the north, where most eagles are right now. Colder temperatures will freeze up rivers and force eagles to migrate south to find prey in open water.

The Merrimack — a fast-running river with substantial tidal activity — tends to have large patches of open water from the Chain Bridge seaward to Plum Island. Eagles come to this area to perch in trees and hunt for fish.