C-10 



Mason's Neck National Wildlife Refuge - contains 904 acres of 

 federal land with 4000 acres collectively protected by State and 

 other lands on Mason Neck. The area has a year-round concentration 

 of eagles, both winter and summer roosters, and a few nesters. 

 Some artificial nest platforms have been installed for eagle use. 

 There are usually 12 to 20 adult birds in the area. Recently up 

 to 4 pairs nested; now only one pair, (Julien, 1972). No nests 

 are on the N. W. Refuge, but one site close by on State land. 



Assateague Island National Seashore - occasional sightings only 

 (Norris, 1973). 



Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge - one or two seen each year; 

 used to be fairly common as a wintering bird. None nesting now, 

 (Appel, 1972). 



Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge - one or two seen each year; 

 but they used to be fairly common as a wintering bird. None are 

 nesting now. (Appel, 1972). 



Blackwater N.W.R . - Has densest population of breeding eagles in 

 Chesapeake Bay area. In 1972, 3 nests on Refuge lands; 1971, 7 

 nests on Refuge and adjacent lands, (Julien, 1972). 



Status : Endangered - on U. S. Dept. of Interior federal list of 

 endangered species. Seriously threatened and declining. A long-term 

 trend downwards in numbers. A shift in location of nesting activities 

 has accompanied the decline in numbers. Eagles have disappeared from 

 upper parts of the tributaries and rivers and the upper part of the 

 Bay. They now concentrate near river estuaries and in the lower part 

 of the Bay. Pollutants here seem to be more diluted and dispersed due 

 to the action of currents; therefore, the food supply is better, 

 (Abbott, 1965, 1971). 



Reasons for Decline : 



1. Trauma, primarily from shooting, is one of the greatest, if not 

 the greatest, cause of mortality among eagles, (Coon, et.al., 1970). 



2. Concentrations of pesticides and their metabolites which are 

 probably major factors causing decrease in Bald Eagle populations 

 through egg-shell thinning from non-lethal amounts of DDE and other 

 metabolites, or by direct mortality by lethal amounts, (see literature 

 references on contamination) . 



3. Pollution of waterways (feeding areas) which limits fish 

 (food supply) of eagles. 



