By Greg Jordan
The Register-Herald
HINTON — Bald eagle sightings across southern West Virginia and into Southwest Virginia, along with the possibility of nests throughout the region, are among the results of an annual wintertime eagle survey.
The 21st Winter Eagle Survey was conducted Jan. 10 in the Summers County area. Volunteers new to eagle spotting joined the Eagle Brigade of Southern WV — which includes Three Rivers Avian Center, Bibbee Nature Club and Hanging Rock Migration Observatory — for several hours of observation. When the annual survey began more than 20 years ago, spotters were lucky to see a single bald eagle. The banning of DDT, a pesticide that caused eagle eggs to become brittle, helped the population begin to recover.
“The eagle numbers seem to be leveling off, which I imagine is what they should do,” said James Phillips, the annual survey’s organizer. “When we started seeing bald eagles, a DNR biologist told me that around the state, nesting pairs were usually about 7 miles apart but he expected New River had enough fish for them to be as close as 3 miles. As the population has grown, we do see them nesting closer together.”
Spotter teams watched for eagles throughout Summers County. Phillips said a bald eagle in its third year was seen in the Hans Creek Valley and Indian Creek area. One adult eagle was seen at Pence Springs, and an adult bald eagle was observed at its nest in Barger Springs. Two adult bald eagles were counted at the Brooks Island Overlook.
Two adult bald eagles were seen in the Bellepoint area, along with one eagle about 2 years old. Nine bald eagles — including four adults and five younger birds — were seen at the mouth of the Bluestone River.
Overall, the survey’s 37 participants found 30 bald eagles, Phillips said. Twenty were adults. No golden eagles were sighted.
In addition to the bald eagles counted during the Jan. 10 survey, others have been sighted outside Summers County. Bald eagles have been seen near the Mercer County landfill and the Glenwood Lake area near Princeton. Phillips said a nest could be in the county.
Bald eagles also could be nesting farther south in Tazewell County, Va. Phillips and his wife, Judy, visited Falls Mills Lake last Tuesday and reported a sighting.
“We saw two very vocal and active adult bald eagles,” he said. “I think there is a nest in that area.”
In both West Virginia and Virginia, disturbing, destroying or moving a bald eagle or golden eagle nest is illegal.
According to West Virginia Code, disturbing an eagle nest or possessing any part of a nest, an eagle or eagle eggs is a misdemeanor for a first offense. Violators can face fines of up to $5,000 and/or 60 days to one year in a regional jail. A second offense is a felony, with fines of up to $10,000 and one to two years in prison.
Disturbing eagles or their nests is also a federal offense, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Violators can face fines of up to $100,000, one year in prison or both for a first offense.
In West Virginia, people who find an eagle nest can contact Rich Bailey, state ornithologist with the Wildlife Resources Section, at Richard.S.Bailey@wv.gov or call 304-630-0223. People can also contact Sergio Harding, nongame bird conservation biologist, at sergio.harding@dgif.virginia.gov or call 804-367-0143.
Bailey and Harding were unavailable Thursday for comment.
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