Bald eagle nesting and productivity Katmai National Park 1994

Savage, Susan

Eagle surveys were conducted in Katmai National Park and Preserve in the Naknek Drainage using fixed-wing aircraft. The activity/productivity dual survey method has been used at Katmai since 1991. A better defined version of the dual survey method was developed into a Protocol for eagle survey and used since 1993. Activity surveys were conducted in early May and productivity surveys were conducted in late July. All nesting locations were mapped on USGS maps. Additionally, during the Production survey, Biologist employed the use of a lap top computer in conjunction with the airplane Global Positioning System to pinpoint locations of nests. Productivity values were calculated and are reported based on occupied, and the more specific subsets active and successful nests. All measures of productivity show declines since 1991, but because methods have been adjusted since that date, and standarized only since 1993, productivity data are statistically compareable only for 1993 and 1994. No statistical differences in productivity are demonstrated between these years. Information gathered during these flights were also used to report total bald eagles observed in May, estimate egg laying date for the population, describe nesting substrate, describe individual nest site used, and calculate distances between occupied nests. Additional information was collected and summarized from historic records with regard to territory occupancy (beyond nest occupancy).