The Eagle Eye Winter 2015-2016

Bald Eagle Watching Days Set for January 15-16 Preparation for the 29th annual Bald presentations will be made. Frank at the River Arts Center Gallery form Eagle Watching Days (BEWD) is near- LaCour and his grandchildren will tell 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., staffed by representa- ly complete with a new birds of prey the story of Old Abe, the Wisconsin tives from the Bureau of Natural Her- show locked in for three shows on Jan Civil War Eagle. LaCour's family in the itage conservation and Ferry Bluff Ea- 15-16. Eau Claire area bought the young eagle gle Council. The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center from Chippewa Indians and then gave FBEC also will sell raffle tickets at of Milwaukee will bring its inter-active it to the local military unit preparing to the River Arts Center throughout the raptor show to the River Arts Center- go into the Civil War. Cathy Frasier, a day Saturday, with the drawing after for a show at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Ferry Bluff Eagle Council member, 3:30 p.m. Prizes include a spotting plus two more shows on Saturday also will share some of her experiences scope and a pair of binoculars donated morning and again in the afternoon. as a chat room moderator for the Dec- as well as some framed pictures. Win- All shows are free and open to the orah eagle cam project. ners need to be present to pick up public. An eagle release by Marge Gibson their prizes at the River Arts Center on Joining the Audubon Nature Cen- of Raptor Education Group Inc. Saturday. ter on the program will be David (REGI) is being explored as well. Ea- A complete list of the program and Stokes, the highly entertaining and in- gle releases area always dependent on events is posted on the website and formative naturalist with his "Laughing the availability of rehabilitated eagles Facebook pages of the Ferry Bluff Ea- with Animals" show on Saturday and positive local conditions. If a re- gle Council. The website address is morning. lease is made, it will be at 1 p.m. Satur- www.ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org, or At the Tripp Heritage Museum on day at the VFW Park in Prairie du Sac. on Facebook search for Ferry Bluff Saturday morning, two small-venue Activities for kids will be available Eagle Council. include eagle habitat year round instead of just focusing on FBEC Mission Expanded To wintering eagles. The changes also give the Council flexibility Recognize Eagles Year Round to network with other wildlife oriented organizations and to address other bird species on special occasions. When Ferry Bluff Eagle Council was founded three Finally, the revision allows the Board to add or consoli- decades ago, wintering eagles were all that lived in the area. date committees, to accommodate the evolving needs of the The eagles came in December and left by March. That is no organization. A pilot study of a new set of committees will be longer is that the case. With the successful expansion of eagle conducted this year, with a final re-alignment coming in a territories across the state, eagles can be seen in the Sauk year. Prairie area all year long. At least a dozen eagle nests have The revised committee realignment will provide new op- been identified in the area, including a new one built this portunities for people to volunteer and become involved in spring across the river from Sauk Prairie. FBEC. Anyone interested should contact Mike Kierski, Recognizing the shift in eagle demographics, Ferry Membership Chair, at [email protected]. Bluff Eagle Council (FBEC) revised its mission this year to 1 returning to a winter area likely means that birds will look in the same winter areas for food in subsequent years. Finding no food, they would presumably move on to search new areas. Finding food, they would presumably remain. This inference is similar to the argument made regarding food abundance and food availability. The difference is that philopatry refers to multiple-year importance of these pat- terns of change in winter habitats rather than changes that might occur within one year. FBEC had the good fortune to test this hypothesis of winter philopatry in eagles by teaming with REGI. The eagles that Marge Gibson rehabilitates are usually recovered from vari- ous places in Wisconsin and even farther afield in the Mid- Coming Home: What Resources west. After their recovery, however, Marge would release some of these birds in the Sauk Prairie area. In contrast, the Allow Eagles to Gather Here? eagles captured in the telemetry study were all captured in By Jeb Barzen Sauk City. The distinction between the rehabilitated eagles Over the past many winters I have mused on how food that Marge released in Sauk Prairie and the eagles that we abundance and food availability affect wintering eagles in the captured in Sauk Prairie is that the captured birds chose to be Sauk Prairie area. Today I want to briefly explore eagle be- in Sauk Prairie whereas the rehabilitated eagles did not. To havior that may interact with food abundance and availabil- REGI’s knowledge, none of the rehabilitated eagles had ity, but not directly and not immediately. Philopatry de- come from the Sauk Prairie area before becoming injured scribes an animal’s tendency to return home. In the case of and going to REGI. If philopatry was important to eagles wintering eagles, philopatry refers to the propensity of eagles we hypothesized that rehabilitated eagles released in Sauk to return to the same winter area repeatedly over many win- Prairie, in contrast to eagles captured in Sauk Prairie, would ters. FBEC research projects have measured eagle winter not have a high return rate in subsequent winters. philopatry in two interesting ways – through monitoring the For this experiment, we put radios on five of Marge Gib- frequency that eagles return to the same winter area that son’s eagles that were released in the Sauk Prairie area and they were captured in, and through an experiment done in tracked these birds during similar time periods as compared conjunction with Marge Gibson’s Raptor Education Group, to our captured eagles. In contrast to captured eagles, only Inc. (REGI). one of five rehabilitated eagles returned to the study area in In the FBEC telemetry project, 14 of 17 eagles that we cap- the winter subsequent to their release. The sole returning tured (81.4%) were tracked in the year they were captured bird was briefly detected in Baraboo and then not detected and during at least one subsequent winter beyond their capture again. Birds that were released in Sauk Prairie did not return year (Table 1). This is a very high return rate for eagles. If in subsequent winters. Philopatry is, therefore, an important any of our telemetered eagles died after they left Sauk Prairie behavioral mechanism to improve eagle’s efficiency of locat- before the next winter, this return rate would be even high- ing food in a variable environment and helps us to under- er. We only know of one eagle death during our study (eagle stand winter eagle ecology. An eagle’s tendency to return to 629-23482; Table 1), but recoveries of dead eagles are rela- winter areas that it knows also means that they are seeking tively rare. Interestingly, 10 of 17 eagles (58.8%) were important resources they require. Finding none, the birds tracked or detected in the Sauk Prairie study area at least two will choose other places to winter but not before exploring winters subsequent to their capture. Finally, 4 of 10 eagles the winter areas that are familiar to them. (40%) were captured and tracked for 4 years, their year of These results provide both good news and bad news for us. capture and for three subsequent winters. Only the 10 birds cap- The high degree of philopatry in eagles means that disturb- tured in the winter of 2002-03 could be tracked for the 4 ance that forces eagles out of a winter area can have a tem- winters of our study. No eagles skipped a winter using Sauk porary effect on eagles if the disturbance is stopped. Eagles Prairie (NT in Table 1), and then returned to the area that will return, if not in the same winter (should other environ- we could detect. mental conditions allow) then in subsequent winters. The Philopatry to winter areas by eagles is high but not 100%, bad news in these results is that, if disturbance continues especially when measured over several years. Ecologically, unabated among multiple years, eagles may abandon the area 2 altogether. How we approach disturbance can therefore be count results from this past winter (2014/2015: Table 2) not flexible within any one year but must also careful avoid only reflect that continued learning but they also reflect that more chronic disturbances that occur over multiple years. continued involvement by volunteers like you. If you have- n’t been able to get involved, now is the time to start! As always, your involvement is critical to improving our Counts for next winter (2015/2016) are: Dec. 6, 2015; Dec. understanding of eagles and how that knowledge can be 20, 2015; Jan. 3, 2016; Jan. 17, 2016; Jan. 31, 2016; Feb. 14, used for the conservation of these magnificent birds. The 2016; Feb. 28, 2016

2004-2005 Pre- 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 sent in Study USFWS Capture Weight at Age at Cap- Number of Number of Number of Area at Least Number Date Capture (kg) Gender ture Locations Locations Locations Once? 62923482 24-Jan-2003 4.68 Female 1-2 years NA 33 NT Found Dead 62923484 20-Feb-2003 3.91 Male 1-2 years NA 35 69 Yes 62923485 8-Mar-2003 3.12 Male 1-2 years NA 17 106 Yes 62923483 18-Feb-2003 6.15 Female Adult NA 39 139 Yes 62923471 8-Feb-2002 5.95 Female Adult 22 130 51 Yes 62923469 8-Feb-2002 4.28 Male Adult 45 81 NT No 62943498 31-Jan-2002 5.02 Female 3-4 years 15 23 2 No 62943500 31-Jan-2002 5.05 Female 4-5 years 15 8 7 No (No Antenna) 62943499 31-Jan-2002 4.62 Male 4-5 years 5 10 97 Yes 62943491 10-Jan-2002 6.35 Female 2-3 years 22 NT* NT No 62943495 17-Jan-2002 3.63 Male 1-2 years 9 4 NT No 62943496 17-Jan-2002 5.59 Female 3-4 years 13 NT NT No 62943493 17-Jan-2002 3.66 Male Adult 99 59 190 Yes 62943494 17-Jan-2002 4.59 Male 3-4 years 10 5 NT No 62943492 16-Jan-2002 4.22 Male 4-5 years 8 25 7 Yes 62944681 3-Feb-2003 3.97 Male 1-2 years NA 44 1 No 62923481 9-Jan-2003 4.45 Male Adult NA 55 35 Yes

Table 1. Eagle band number, capture data and # of sightings subsequent to capture for eagles captured, marked and re- leased in Sauk City, Wisconsin 2001-2005.

Table 2. Coordinated roost count results for the winter of 2014/2015.

3 Join Us for a Guided Saturday Eagle Watching Tour! In January and February, FBEC volunteers guide eagle watching bus tours on Saturday mornings, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Participants should meet at the Cedarberry Inn on Phillips Blvd. (Hwy 12) for a 10:00 a.m. departure time. The tour is one hour long and visits the dam, VFW Park and Prairie du Sac overlook, sites where eagles are regularly seen. In addition to spotting eagles, guides share a lot of information about eagle biology, daily habits during the winter, results of eagle tracking studies across the country, Officers: and much more.  President: John Keefe; [email protected] The cost is $5 per person (children 5 and younger are free). To reserve a spot, call the Cedarberry Inn at 608-643-6625.  Vice President: Gene Unger; [email protected] Reservations are strongly encouraged.  Secretary: Cathy Frasier; [email protected] Please note that during Eagle Watching Days (January 15-  Treasurer: Penny Barrett; [email protected] 16, 2016), bus tours are FREE and leave from the Sauk Board Members: Prairie High School. Reserve your spot at the bus tour sign  Mike Kierski; [email protected] -up table at the event entrance.  Jared Walker Smith; [email protected] 2016 Eagle Watching Tour dates:  Mike Hedemark; [email protected] January 9  Meredith Beckman; [email protected] January 16 (see Eagle Watching Days schedule) Standing Committees: January 23 Membership: January 30  Chair Mike Kierski February 6 Habitat: February 13  Chair: Gene Unger  Roost Count Volunteers Coordinator: Heidi Royal Connect with Ferry Bluff Eagle Council Eagle Days: Ferry Bluff Eagle Council is on the Web, Face-  Chair: John Keefe book and more!  Volunteer Coordinator: Suzanne Paskey; [email protected] Check us out at: Education: www.ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org/  Chair: Cathy Frasier On Facebook look for: Ferry Bluff Eagle Council.  Overlook Volunteers Coordinator: Jared Smith We welcome people who are interested in help- [email protected] ing visitors at the overlook in Prairie du Sac Eagle Eye Editor: Donna Stehling, 608-643-8024 (handbook and training available), doing roost Graphic design: Kurt Eakle counts in the winter and other projects.

Overlook Duty - Volunteer Opportunity! A Free Eagle Watchers’ map is available at Two-hour shifts on Saturdays & Sundays! the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber Office and Handbook on site. - Training available. in racks at many area restaurants. It’s fun! Meet people & share your love of eagles! Restaurant table toppers provide addition- Email FBEC al eagle information.

4 FBEC Membership and Volunteer Form Name ______Address ______Email ______Phone ______Membership level Return form with check payable to: Senior/Student _____ $10 Ferry Bluff Eagle Council Individual _____ $20 PO Box 532 Family _____ $30 Sauk City, WI 53583 Eagle Supporter _____ $50 _____ Contact me about volunteering Eagle Protector _____ $100 _____ I wish to remain anonymous Other $______Extra donation fore Eagle Habitat Preservation Fund $ ______Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Thank you for your support!

Eagle Materials for Adults and Children

The Bald Eagle The American Eagle Lloyd G. Douglas Sauk, Columbia, Dane and Tom and Pat Leeson

Northern Iowa Counties The Bald Eagle Bald Eagle True Books: American History Teachers, scout leaders and Gordon Morrison Elaine Landau other youth group leaders are Grades K-grade 5

welcome to check our “All My Little Book of Bald Eagles Bald Eagle Behavior About Eagles” kit which con- Hope Irvin Marston, author Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Stephanie Miroche, illustrator tains videos, curriculum, books, Grades 1-7

Bald Eagle Nest: A Story of puppets and other eagle infor- Survival in Photos mation. You may borrow a kit The Bald Eagle Kate Davis for a month free. Just send us Joan Barghusen Grades 9 - 12 Inside a Bald Eagle's Nest: A Pho- an email! tographic Journey Through the American Bald Eagle Nesting Sea- Eagles son Lynn M. Stone Teena Ruark Gorrow FBEC volunteers are available to Grades 4 to 8 give PowerPoint shows to area Eagles Over the River, Jean groups. Email the Ferry Bluff Bald Eagles: a Chemical Nightmare Clausen Eagle Council. A $100 donation Meish Goldish, Bob Hatcher (consultant) To Thank a River, Jean Clausen is encouraged. Some are available electronically. Check book seller’s sites for new and used options.

5 Eagle Watchers’ Etiquette From the Eagles' Beaks

Listen up! Perched eagles along the Wisconsin River are fishing. Fish is our favorite dish. In winter, we need to eat at least one pound of food a day to have enough energy to take us through a cold night. Some night's are colder than others. Respectful eagle watchers will not attempt to sneak up on fishing eagles. Let your lenses do the walking. Pass the word. The eagles you see are guaranteed WILD! When ice covers their northern fishing areas, we must find open water to fish. Here we can also dine on barn waste spread on crop fields. We may also dine on road kill. We enjoy the variety. Eagles in shoreline trees may look like they are loafing. But we are fishing. Yes, we loaf between snacks, digesting our food. But we will not pass up a a good snack going by. We snack frequently all day. Just before bedtime, we try to fill our crops before heading to our night roosts. Do not disturb! Our crop is a muscular pouch that helps us digest our food. Winter is generally the only time of the year us eagles congregate. We select our nesting sites carefully and do not allow intruding eagles. We need all the food we can get fast for our eaglets. Growing eaglets are so demanding. We have a good hunting or fishing space and it may not be a secret, but we don't like competition. If another eagle invades my space, I might just let it do the work and then steal the catch. Why spend the energy when another eagle will do the work for you. Myth and Urban Legend Busting! For the record, we are not here on seasonal contracts nor does any local organization feed us on any schedule. We come here because we know food is readily available. We are wild and proud of it. We like it that way. You can watch us. Just remember we are also watching you. Get too close and we're out of here.

6 Every sale of this licenseplate provides a $25 annual donation to the Endangered Resources Fund to protect and restore Wisconsin’s rare wildlife and special natural areas.

Ferry Bluff Eagle Council President John Keefe with DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp at the unveiling in the VFW park in Prairie du Sac on August 5, 2015. Eagle License Plate Unveiled in Sauk Prairie The new eagle design license plate that raises money for rare species work was unveiled Aug. 5 in Sauk Prairie. This license reflects the success of Wisconsin citizens in helping to restore eagle populations, and the work of groups like the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council to help keep eagle populations growing. Officials acknowledged the connec- tions that local residents have made to this magnificent bird and what they do to help eagles and other birds. The striking new design was unveiled during a short ceremony that included remarks by local elected officials, the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and DOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb. There was also a presen- tation by Diane Visty of the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee featuring “Glory,” a live eagle. Information for ordering eagle license plates will be available at Eagle Days in January. Every sale of this license plate provides a $25 annual donation to the Endangered Resources Fund to protect and restore Wiscon- sin’s rare wildlife and special natural areas. To order your plate, visit dnr.wi.gov and search “eagle plate.”

Eagle Days Presentations at the Sauk Prairie Schools

Each year, Ferry Bluff Eagle Council arranges education- al presentations for the Sauk Prairie School District to grade schoolers. Last year, the Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota gave a Birds of Prey show to children at the Grand Avenue Grade School. In addition to students at Grand Ave, students at Tower Rock and Merrimac schools were bussed in to attend. This year, David Stokes will pre- sent his Laughing with the Animals show for the students.

7 Bald Eagle Watching Days is brought to you by … Organizing and preparing for Eagle Watching Days takes the work of many vol- unteers from Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Com- merce, the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation at the Wisconsin Dept. of Natu- ral Resources and the Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society. A special thank you to all these volunteers, and the volunteers who work behind the scenes during Eagle Days to make this event happen. Behind all the effort is the support of local businesses and foundations. A special thank you goes to our Major Event Sponsor - the Alliant Energy Founda- tion, a continuing source of funding for the event. We would also like to thank Wol- lersheim Winery which supports Ferry Bluff Eagle Council’s efforts to preserve eagle habitat. Eagle Optics returns as our Raffle Sponsor. Edge Consulting Engineers, Inc. and Unity Health Insurance are Steward Sponsors for 2016 In addition, local businesses contributing to Eagle Days as Advocates include: Ace Sauk Prairie, Bank of Prairie du Sac, Blue Spoon Cafe, Cedarberry Inn, Consumers Co-Operative Oil Co., Maplewood of Sauk Prairie, Proforma/Joe Howard, Sauk Prairie Small Animal Hospital and Wisconsin River Bank. Other local Friend Sponsors are Ballweg Chevrolet Buick, Courtesy Ford of Sauk City, Culver Franchising System, Inc., Eagleview Dental Office, Edward Jones Investments/Joe LaCour, Ever Ready Electric, Inc., Fair Valley Performance & Repair, Geier, Homar & Roy LLP, Green Acres, H & R Block, Hooverson Funeral Home, Inc., Leystra’s Venture Restaurant, Lumen Communications/Jody Fossen, McFarlane Manufac- turing Company, Inc, Miller & Associates-Sauk Prairie, Inc., Opahle’s Piggly Wiggly, Que’s Bar & River Deck, River Arts, Inc., Sauk Prairie Harley-Davidson, Inc., The Mixing Bowl Bakery, Tools of Marketing, Inc., Village Family Dental Associ- ates, SC., Wisconsin River Retreat, LLC and Woodshed Ale House. Eagle Days would not happen without their support!

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2014 Winter,

53583 WI City, Sauk

532 Box PO

Council Eagle Bluff Ferry