Recently Marc Johnson of Hearst, Ontario, posted a note about juvenile
Bald
Eagles becoming ill or dying near Hearst and Kapuskasing. He noted
abnormal behaviours and has already transferred one bird to a rehab.
centre. He also requested that anyone noticing 'out of sorts' behaviour
contact him with the information.
I have already personally responded to Marc Johnson, however I wanted to
share some information about Bald Eagles in southern Ontario with
Ontbirds
subscribers. Could anyone that comes across a sick or dead eagle please
promptly report it to Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) as
well
as to myself (Dawn Laing - Bald Eagle Program Coordinator with Bird
Studies
Canada). Bird Studies Canada is intensively studying the Great Lakes
Bald
Eagle population as part of our ongoing Southern Ontario Bald Eagle
Monitoring program, a partnership between Canadian Wildlife Service
(CWS),
OMNR, and BSC. This program was initiated in the early 1980s to monitor
the Bald Eagle population in southern Ontario. Every year, all Bald
Eagle
nests are monitored through a network of volunteers, and juvenile eagles
are banded and blood sampled very five years. This summer (2004) we
banded
and blood sampled 21 juvenile eagles ('our' eagles have black and white
leg
bands).
More specific to Marc's inquiry, we recently retrieved two resident
juvenile eagles in the Long Point Bay area and have also heard reports
of a
sick eagle in the same area. Such findings are alarming, especially
considering the small size of the southern population. If anyone knows
of a
sick/dead eagle, please let me know. You can reach me toll free at
1-888-448-2473 ext. 232, or by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dawn K. Laing
Bald Eagle Biologist/Project Coordinator
Bird Studies Canada
P.O. Box 160
Port Rowan, Ontario
N0E 1M0
tel: 519 586-3531 ext 232
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 11:56:04 -0400
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From: George Naylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Juvenile Ferruginous Hawk - Burloak Rd, Bronte Ont.
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I was on my way home at about noon on Sunday, Sept. 26th, from an
unsuccessful morning of looking for the White-winged Dove at Shell Park. I
drove north on Burloak and was approaching the stoplight at New World
Drive, when I Saw a LARGE Raptor flying around a large pile of dirt on the
north side of the road in a large vacant field adjacent to the refinery & a
cement plant. My first impression of this large bird was eagle; but it was
way too pale. The light turned red, so I grabbed my bins for a closer
look. It was gliding on flat wings & occasionally flapping between 5 & ten
meters above the ground. it then turned away from me, flew back to the
dirt pile & landed on top. When it flared up to land, I saw large white
patches on the primaries & a medium brown back with no apparent
mottling. The bird fanned its tail when landing and the tail looked
silvery white, except for a diffuse salmon wash on the tip. I then
thought, Krider's Red Tail, but again, way too big & long
-winged. Large headed & big chested. At this point I started thinking
Ferruginous. It flew again toward the refinery so I drove to the
private road to the cement plant. As it circled higher I got good looks at
the underside. Obvious commas on the underwing, but no dark patagial marks
or carpal patches. No belly band. I looked for dark leggings and at first
thought I saw them, but then realized that the legs were whitish but the
lower flanks appeared dark. When soaring, it showed a bit of dihedral
right from the body. It also hover hunted three times during my
observation. It then flew north across the road toward the QEW. It passed
a juvenile Red-tail that was hunting in this field, it looked at least as
large, even though it was much farther away. I drove to the south service
road to try and study it some more, but by the time I got there, it had
crossed the QEW and disappeared. There are other fine ID points noted
during my 20 minute observation that I won't include in this report, its
already long enough. Anyone wishing more information should Email me
directly. I will be submitting a report to OBRC. George Naylor
Directions to Burloak Rd; QEW in either direction, from Hamilton or
Toronto, exit south toward Lake Ontario. Large Fields on left where
cement plant & refinery are.
