2010 BALD EAGLE INVENTORY & MONITORING

Bensen, Keith

The bald eagle, (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), was taken off the list of species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in July, 2007 (USDI 2007). Bald eagles were originally listed as endangered in 1967, but due to a rising population trend, it was de-listed three years ago. Despite being de-listed, provisions within the ESA and other state and federal laws mandate continuing monitoring and protection of bald eagles within Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP or parks). Section 4(g)1 of the federal ESA requires that a species be monitored for five years post de-listing to ensure that de-listing was warranted and that populations are sustainable. The bald eagle is still listed, and protected, by the state of California as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. In addition, the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 (Eagle Act) (16 USC 668-668c) provides full protection almost equal to those protections formerly afforded by the federal ESA. The Eagle Act prohibits “take” of bald and golden eagles. Take is defined by the law as “pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb.” Disturb has been interpreted by the USFWS as “to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, 1) injury to an eagle, 2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or 3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior” (USFWS 2007). Due to the protected status of the bald eagle, the Fish and Wildlife Branch staff at RNSP continues to annually monitor known nest sites within the parks, and compiles and records all reported bald eagle sightings within the parks. When personnel and time allows, the Fish and Wildlife Branch staff also attempts to survey habitat that has a high potential to support new bald eagle nests and winter roosts. This information is used to advise park management decisions so that ongoing and proposed management actions can be designed to not adversely affect bald eagles as well as encourage the further recovery of the species.