20 tHE -A'U DU BO Ne] B&B UL Diba 
This decline in immatures is somewhat similar each winter. The total 
numbers of eagles counted are those seen on regular eagle-finding trips and 
those seen daily as I drive around town. They in no way reflect a good com- 
parison between peak and average numbers seen in each of the winter 
totals. The middle winter of the three reported was a long one, with frozen 
rivers well into spring. Therefore, the eagles were here longer. Peak counts 
for the three winters were 114, 66, and 91. In the first two winters we had 
more immatures at the start and at the finish of each season. This was not 
true in 1960-61. We saw very few immatures at the beginning and at the 
end of the winter in our count areas. 
Detailed reports came to me from the six U.S. Fish and Wildlife field 
men stationed on the Upper Mississippi Valley Refuge. In only two of 
these reports do we have any build-up of young early in the winter. In all 
six we had a sizeable build-up in numbers as the winter receded. In Pools 
4 through 6 and Pools 7-8 the build-up in immatures completely reversed 
the ratio in favor of the younger birds over the adults. These were covered 
by two of the six men reporting. In Pool 11 the percentage of immatures to 
adults improved from 9% to 38.85%. 
From reports of the field men in the Upper Mississippi Valley Refuge 
and other reports, mostly south of here, an interesting feeding pattern ap- 
pears. Far more data is needed to prove or disprove what could be a major 
factor in explaining the decreasing ratio of young that has alarmed us 
during the past few years. Apparently where ducks and geese winter, the 
immature eagles are found in larger numbers. It also appears from limited 
data that the numbers of young are increasing in some of these areas each 
year. Mr. Lee Bush, formerly of the Crab Orchard Refuge near Carterville, 
Ill., has sent in some excellent data for the past five winters. A comparison 
between my area and his for the past three winters is most interesting: 
Winter Tri-City Percentages Crab Orchard Percentages 
Adults Immatures Adults Immatures 
1958-59 82.5424 17.4576 34.88 65.12 
1959-60 84.6237 15.3763 27.68 Tate 
1960-61 86.8726 13.1274 17.69 82.31 
Additional data from Crab Orchard: 
1956-57 63.64 36.36 
1957-58 68.75 31.25 
During the five years reported, the total season count built up from 32 to 
a total of 130. 
Other reports show that immature eagles prefer smaller streams and 
more wooded river borders than adults. A comparison between the several 
open water areas in our Tri-City Count area confirms this. Could it be that 
the younger eagles like feeding on active prey rather than easy feeding on 
stunned fish, as do their older counterparts? Feeding is no problem for 
eagles near the roller dams. They can and do lead a very lazy life. I have 
only once seen an eagle chase a gull to rob it of its prey. This must not be 
necessary where food is abundant. Has the thievery of the eagle been played 
up too much? Some local news writers always tell of Bald Eagles stealing 
from other birds. Most of their research must be done in books! 
