Public Comments Accepted on Proposed Changes in Bald Eagle Status and Habitat Protection Rule The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is beginning a 90-day public comment period on the draft bald eagle status report and proposed revisions to the bald eagle habitat protection rule (WAC 232-12-292). The draft status report contains a recommendation to down-list the bald eagle to Sensitive, provided that the habitat rule be revised. Changes in listing of species are based solely on the biological status of the species and its habitat. The purpose of the public review is to allow interested persons to submit new scientific information which applies to the status report and listing recommendation and to comment on the Department’s interpretation of information. The public comment period extends from 1 June to 1 September 2001. Copies of the status report are available at Department regional offices, the Olympia headquarters, in electronic format below, and available for reading at public libraries. The Department will hold public meetings on these proposals. Meeting times and places will be published when they are scheduled. After the public comment period, the Department will prepare final reports and recommendations and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) documents. These will be available for a 30-day comment period beginning 15 October. Pending federal de-listing of the bald eagle, the final recommendation will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at the December 7-8 2001 meeting. Please provide your comments and information by 1 September 2001. Send e-mail comments to [email protected] or mail written comments to: Endangered Species Section Manager Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way N Olympia, WA 98501-1091 You may download the draft bald eagle plan, or proposed revised habitat protection rule by clicking on the highlighted text below: • Draft Bald Eagle Status Report • Proposed revisions to Bald Eagle Habitat Rule For a hard copy, please check the box(es) here: DRAFT 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 June 2001 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 status report, classification recommendation, and any State Environmental Policy Act findings. During the 90-day review period, the Department holds two public meetings: one in eastern Washington and one in western Washington. At the close of the comment period, the Department completes the Final Status Report and Listing Recommendation for presentation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Final Report and Recommendation are then released 30 days prior to the Commission presentation for public review. This is the Draft Status Report for the Bald Eagle. Submit written comments on this report by 1 September 2001 to: Derek Stinson, Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. The Department will present the results of this status review to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for action at the December meeting. This report should be cited as: Stinson, D. W., J. W. Watson, and K. R. McAllister. 2001. Draft Washington State status report for the Bald Eagle. Washington Dept. Fish and Wildlife, Olympia. 90 pp. Cover illustration by Darrell Pruett TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .....................................................vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................ vii Acronyms Used in the Report ......................................................... vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...........................................................viii 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 June 2001 iii Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Productivity rate ....................................................... 23 Nest success rate ...................................................... 24 Lower Columbia River and Hood Canal .................................... 25 Winter population ..................................................... 25 Washington Population: Future ................................................. 27 HABITAT STATUS ................................................................ 28 Past ....................................................................... 28 Present..................................................................... 28 Foraging habitat....................................................... 28 Nesting, perching and roosting habitats..................................... 29 Land ownership....................................................... 30 Future ..................................................................... 33 LEGAL STATUS .................................................................. 34 MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ....................................................... 35 Surveys.................................................................... 35 Nesting Surveys....................................................... 36 Mid-winter Bald Eagle Surveys........................................... 36 Bald Eagle Management Plans.................................................. 36 Roost management plans................................................ 38 County generic plans ................................................... 38 Plan conditions........................................................ 39 Amendments ......................................................... 40 Compliance .......................................................... 40 Research ................................................................... 40 Habitat Acquisition ........................................................... 41 Miscellaneous Activities ....................................................... 41 Landowner contributions ...............................................