WDFW Washington State Status Report for the Bald Eagle
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STATE OF WASHINGTON October 2001 WashingtonWashington StateState StatusStatus ReportReport forfor thethe BaldBald EagleEagle by Derek W. Stinson, James W. Watson and Kelly R. McAllister Washington Department of FISH AND WILDLIFE Wildlife Program WDFW 759 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains a list of endangered, threatened and sensitive species (Washington Administrative Codes 232-12-014 and 232-12-011, Appendix I). In 1990, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted listing procedures developed by a group of citizens, interest groups, and state and federal agencies (Washington Administrative Code 232-12-297, Appendix I). The procedures include how species listing will be initiated, criteria for listing and delisting, public review and recovery and management of listed species. The first step in the process is to develop a preliminary species status report. The report includes a review of information relevant to the species’ status in Washington and addresses factors affecting its status including, but not limited to: historic, current, and future species population trends, natural history including ecological relationships, historic and current habitat trends, population demographics and their relationship to long term sustainability, and historic and current species management activities. The procedures then provide for a 90-day public review opportunity for interested parties to submit new scientific data relevant to the draft status report and classification recommendation. During the 90-day review period, the Department held three public meetings to take comments and answer questions. The Department has now completed the final status report, listing recommendation and State Environmental Policy Act findings for presentation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. The documents and recommendation are available for a 30-day public review period. This is the Final Status Report for the Bald Eagle. Submit written comments on this report and the reclassification proposal by 22 November 2001 to: Harriet Allen, Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. The Department intends to present the results of this status review to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for action at the December 7-8 meeting. However, in the event that the bald eagle has not been de-listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the federal Endangered Species Act, the presentation for action by the Commission will be postponed until federal de-listing has occurred. This report should be cited as: Stinson, D. W., J. W. Watson, and K. R. McAllister. 2001. Washington state status report for the bald eagle. Washington Dept. Fish and Wildlife, Olympia. 92 pp. Cover photos by Jim Watson, cover design and title page illustration by Darrell Pruett. Washington State Status Report for the Bald Eagle Prepared by Derek W. Stinson, James W. Watson, and Kelly R. McAllister Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Program 600 Capitol Way N Olympia, WA 98501-1091 October 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .....................................................vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................ vii Acronyms Used in the Report ......................................................... vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................ix TAXONOMY ...................................................................... 1 DESCRIPTION..................................................................... 1 DISTRIBUTION.................................................................... 1 NATURAL HISTORY ............................................................... 3 Reproduction ................................................................. 3 Territoriality ........................................................... 3 Mating behavior........................................................ 3 Nesting and brood rearing ................................................ 3 Movements and Dispersal....................................................... 4 Migration............................................................. 4 Dispersal and Fidelity ................................................... 6 Diet and Foraging............................................................. 6 Behavior .................................................................... 8 Winter feeding......................................................... 8 Soaring............................................................... 8 Communal roosting..................................................... 8 Interspecific relationships ................................................ 9 Longevity, Survival, and Mortality ................................................ 9 HABITAT REQUIREMENTS ........................................................ 11 Home Range................................................................ 11 Nesting Habitat.............................................................. 11 Perch Trees................................................................. 13 Foraging Habitat............................................................. 13 Roosting Habitat............................................................. 14 POPULATION STATUS ............................................................ 15 Decline, Protection and Recovery in North America................................. 15 Washington: Past ............................................................ 17 Estimate of historical population .......................................... 17 Washington: Present.......................................................... 19 Nesting density ....................................................... 21 Occupancy rate ....................................................... 22 Productivity rate ....................................................... 22 October 2001 iii Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Nest success rate ...................................................... 24 Lower Columbia River and Hood Canal .................................... 24 Winter population ..................................................... 25 Washington Population: Future ................................................. 26 HABITAT STATUS ................................................................ 27 Past ....................................................................... 27 Present..................................................................... 28 Foraging habitat....................................................... 28 Nesting, perching and roosting habitats..................................... 28 Land ownership....................................................... 29 Future ..................................................................... 32 LEGAL STATUS .................................................................. 33 MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ....................................................... 34 Surveys.................................................................... 35 Nesting Surveys....................................................... 35 Mid-winter Bald Eagle Surveys........................................... 35 Bald Eagle Management Plans.................................................. 35 Roost management plans................................................ 37 County generic plans ................................................... 38 Plan conditions........................................................ 39 Amendments ......................................................... 39 Compliance .......................................................... 39 Research ................................................................... 40 Habitat Acquisition ........................................................... 40 Miscellaneous Activities ....................................................... 40 Landowner contributions ................................................ 40 Lead shot ban......................................................... 40 Rehabilitation ......................................................... 41 Artificial perches...................................................... 41 California reintroductions ............................................... 41 EagleCam............................................................ 41 FACTORS AFFECTING CONTINUED EXISTENCE ..................................... 41 Adequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanism...................................... 41 Federal protection ..................................................... 41 State bald eagle rules................................................... 42 Forest and Fish........................................................ 43 County ordinances ..................................................... 43 Salmon .................................................................... 44 Chum and pinks....................................................... 44 Coho and steelhead .................................................... 45 Skagit River.......................................................... 45 Columbia River ....................................................... 45 Lake Washington sockeye............................................... 46 October 2001 iv Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hatcheries and carcasses................................................ 46 Escapement goals and eagles............................................. 46 Other Prey Populations .......................................................