Florida’s Bald Eagles vs. Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne

Florida’s Bald Eagles vs. Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne

By Dianna Flynt, Supervisor Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

After an unprecedented four hurricanes in six weeks caused damage statewide, the Audubon EagleWatch Program, headquartered at Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, is receiving numerous reports that Bald Eagle nests and nest trees are either damaged, completely down or the area has sustained considerable loss of the nest and all surrounding trees. This will be a challenging year for eagles in Florida as they return to their nest territories, survey the natural damage, and decide to repair their nests, rebuild in alternate trees or even utilize man-made structures such as cell and utility towers. Typically, eagle nesting season in Florida begins in October and extends thru May.

Audubon is currently compiling data on these hurricane impacted nests and injured eagles.

Preliminary information from EagleWatch volunteers reported in late September that of 102 territories in 23 counties, 45 eagle nests are gone, including the complete loss of 16 nest trees; 9 nests sustained damage and 16 nest trees are damaged. Additional statistical data is also being compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Audubon members EagleWatch volunteers are encouraged to contact Center Supervisor Dianna Flynt (Dflynt@audubon.org) or Audubon EagleWatch Coordinator, Lynda White (Lwhite@audubon.org) at the Center (407-644-0190) with any information they may have on this issue. Florida wildlife rehabilitators have been cautioned that they may see an increase in eagles injured in territory fights as they compete for reduced nesting habitat. As always, the Audubon Center and EagleWatch will continue to provide assistance for eagle care and rehabilitation, as well as locating and monitoring active eagle territories.

The multi-hurricanes’ resulting population impact on many wildlife species, including Bald Eagles, is currently unknown. Collecting and publishing data on what effect a natural disaster has on a species may help us to manage the remaining habitat more efficiently, as well as understand the potential population impacts of future natural or man-made disasters.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is a raptor rehabilitation and environmental educational center, open to the public, that admits 650 to 750 sick, injured and orphaned raptors (eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, kites and osprey) annually, including an average of 55 Bald Eagles. The Audubon EagleWatch Program is a statewide Bald Eagle nest monitoring program. Currently, EagleWatch volunteers monitor over 20% of Florida’s nesting eagles, with 240 volunteers active in 39 counties watching 282 nests. EagleWatch data also supplements state and federal wildlife agencies’ eagle nesting data. For information on joining EagleWatch and attending one of this year’s workshops, contact Lynda White. For more information about the Audubon Center, visit www.audubonofflorida.org.