01-16-2011, 12:13 PM
WHAT: Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey
WHEN: Friday, January 9, 2009, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE: STATEWIDE - Wildlife staff will be available in the field for media and interested birdwatchers in several locations. See "Contacts Information" below to find out where staff will be and when. The best areas for eagle viewing are listed below.
"¢ Belchertown - Enfield Lookout at Quabbin Reservoir. Eagles can be viewed at a long distance.<br />
"¢ West Boylston, Clinton, Sterling, Boylston - Wachusett Reservoir. Eagles can sometimes be viewed at a long distance from Routes 140 or Route 70.<br />
"¢ Lakeville - Long Point Road on the causeway between Pocksha Pond and Great Quitticas Pond. Eagles can be viewed at a long distance.<br />
"¢ Newburyport - Merrimack River at Cashman Park Boat Ramp or at Deer Island off Rte 1A (from the chain bridge) Newburyport. These are both good areas for eagles to be seen fairly close without the need of a spotting scope.
BACKGROUND:<br />
From December 31, 2008 through January 14, 2009, MassWildlife will participate in the nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey. On January 9, MassWildlife personnel and volunteers across the state will conduct a concentrated survey of major rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and the coast. This event occurs nationwide every year in early January. Ground teams and a helicopter will cover known eagle territories during the day.<br />
Anyone spotting an eagle from December 31, 2008 through January 14, 2009 is encouraged to report the sighting by email at Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or by postal service to "Eagle Survey", MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Please provide date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, and the number of birds, if they are juvenile or adult, and the observer contact information. A fact sheet on eagles is posted at: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/species_info/nhfacts/haliaeetus_leucocephalus.pdf
STAFF CONTACTS ON JANUARY 9, 2009:
Western District:<br />
"¢ Tony Gola, MassWildlife Western District Biologist - Gola will be available in the MassWildlife Pittsfield office to provide area eagle restoration information for media inquries. District Office contact: (413) 447-9789.
Connecticut Valley District:<br />
"¢ Ralph Taylor, Mass Wildlife Conn. Valley District Supervisor - Taylor will be at the Quabbin Reservoir's Enfield Lookout in Belchertown from 10 a.m. to noon. Media are invited to meet and talk with him. There is a good chance of seeing eagles at this location-views are distant. The National Grid helicopter flight around the shoreline of Quabbin will be in the morning, weather permitting. Cell phone contact: (413) 209-2734.
Central District:<br />
"¢ Bridgett McAlice, MassWildlife Central District Wildlife Biologist - McAlice will be surveying the Wachusett Reservoir and may get reports from other observers in Worcester County. Cell phone contact: (508) 868-0334. District Office contact: (508) 835-3607.
Northeast District:<br />
"¢ Mary Griffin, Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game. Commissioner Griffin is planning to join volunteers observing eagles at Deer Island in Amesbury on the Merrimack River from around 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will be at Cashman Park in Newburyport at 2:30 p.m. Cell phone contact: (617) 877-0907.<br />
"¢ Erik Amati, MassWildlife Northeast District Wildlife Biologist - Amati will be part of the ground crew covering the Merrimack River area. He will be available to speak to interested media and eagle watchers at 2:30 p.m. at the Cashman Park Boat Ramp in Newburyport area on the River. Cell phone contact: (978) 621-8432.
Southeast District:<br />
"¢ Jason Zimmer, MassWildlife Southeast District Supervisor - Zimmer will be checking the Wattuppa Ponds and Westport River area. Cell phone contact: (617) 875-5376.<br />
"¢ Kathleen (Betty) Anderson, Chair MassWildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee - Anderson will be available to interview in the field. She will be either at Long Point Road on the causeway between Pocksha Pond and Great Quitticas Pond in Lakeville or in the Winberg's Hardware parking lot on Rte 105 in Lakeville. Views of eagles may be distant. Cell phone contact: (774) 766-2196.
Westborough Field Headquarters:<br />
"¢ Dr. Tom French, Assistant Direct of Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, is available to discuss facts and figures on past Midwinter Eagle Surveys or on Eagle Restoration and Natural History. Headquarters phone contact: (508) 389-6355.
WHEN: Friday, January 9, 2009, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE: STATEWIDE - Wildlife staff will be available in the field for media and interested birdwatchers in several locations. See "Contacts Information" below to find out where staff will be and when. The best areas for eagle viewing are listed below.
"¢ Belchertown - Enfield Lookout at Quabbin Reservoir. Eagles can be viewed at a long distance.<br />
"¢ West Boylston, Clinton, Sterling, Boylston - Wachusett Reservoir. Eagles can sometimes be viewed at a long distance from Routes 140 or Route 70.<br />
"¢ Lakeville - Long Point Road on the causeway between Pocksha Pond and Great Quitticas Pond. Eagles can be viewed at a long distance.<br />
"¢ Newburyport - Merrimack River at Cashman Park Boat Ramp or at Deer Island off Rte 1A (from the chain bridge) Newburyport. These are both good areas for eagles to be seen fairly close without the need of a spotting scope.
BACKGROUND:<br />
From December 31, 2008 through January 14, 2009, MassWildlife will participate in the nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey. On January 9, MassWildlife personnel and volunteers across the state will conduct a concentrated survey of major rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and the coast. This event occurs nationwide every year in early January. Ground teams and a helicopter will cover known eagle territories during the day.<br />
Anyone spotting an eagle from December 31, 2008 through January 14, 2009 is encouraged to report the sighting by email at Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or by postal service to "Eagle Survey", MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Please provide date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, and the number of birds, if they are juvenile or adult, and the observer contact information. A fact sheet on eagles is posted at: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/species_info/nhfacts/haliaeetus_leucocephalus.pdf
STAFF CONTACTS ON JANUARY 9, 2009:
Western District:<br />
"¢ Tony Gola, MassWildlife Western District Biologist - Gola will be available in the MassWildlife Pittsfield office to provide area eagle restoration information for media inquries. District Office contact: (413) 447-9789.
Connecticut Valley District:<br />
"¢ Ralph Taylor, Mass Wildlife Conn. Valley District Supervisor - Taylor will be at the Quabbin Reservoir's Enfield Lookout in Belchertown from 10 a.m. to noon. Media are invited to meet and talk with him. There is a good chance of seeing eagles at this location-views are distant. The National Grid helicopter flight around the shoreline of Quabbin will be in the morning, weather permitting. Cell phone contact: (413) 209-2734.
Central District:<br />
"¢ Bridgett McAlice, MassWildlife Central District Wildlife Biologist - McAlice will be surveying the Wachusett Reservoir and may get reports from other observers in Worcester County. Cell phone contact: (508) 868-0334. District Office contact: (508) 835-3607.
Northeast District:<br />
"¢ Mary Griffin, Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game. Commissioner Griffin is planning to join volunteers observing eagles at Deer Island in Amesbury on the Merrimack River from around 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will be at Cashman Park in Newburyport at 2:30 p.m. Cell phone contact: (617) 877-0907.<br />
"¢ Erik Amati, MassWildlife Northeast District Wildlife Biologist - Amati will be part of the ground crew covering the Merrimack River area. He will be available to speak to interested media and eagle watchers at 2:30 p.m. at the Cashman Park Boat Ramp in Newburyport area on the River. Cell phone contact: (978) 621-8432.
Southeast District:<br />
"¢ Jason Zimmer, MassWildlife Southeast District Supervisor - Zimmer will be checking the Wattuppa Ponds and Westport River area. Cell phone contact: (617) 875-5376.<br />
"¢ Kathleen (Betty) Anderson, Chair MassWildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee - Anderson will be available to interview in the field. She will be either at Long Point Road on the causeway between Pocksha Pond and Great Quitticas Pond in Lakeville or in the Winberg's Hardware parking lot on Rte 105 in Lakeville. Views of eagles may be distant. Cell phone contact: (774) 766-2196.
Westborough Field Headquarters:<br />
"¢ Dr. Tom French, Assistant Direct of Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, is available to discuss facts and figures on past Midwinter Eagle Surveys or on Eagle Restoration and Natural History. Headquarters phone contact: (508) 389-6355.