RESULTS: THE ONE-DAY BALD EAGLE COUNT 
February 16, 1974: Again, most of the Mississippi River from its source to 
below St. Louis, and all of the Illinois River from Ottawa to Grafton, was 
covered. Kentucky was again covered by the Kentucky Ornithological So- 
ciety. In some of the other areas that came in, some good coverage was made 
in Nebraska, mostly by the Big Bend Audubon Society. 
The area from Bellevue to Warsaw, Iowa, was again covered by cars 
and an airplane. Careful comparison was made. In some of this route, cars 
are better, but over most of the area the plane does best. Peter Petersen did 
the plane counting, with Dr. Hayden DeDecker furnishing the plane. Dr. L. H. 
Princen handled the Illinois River coverage. The St. Louis Audubon Society 
again led all groups. These were Lockmaster, Fish & Wildlife, and Game 
Management personnel as well as many bird-watchers. My thanks to all. 
ADULTS IMMATURES NOT AGED TOTAL 
Lock & Dam 3 thru Lock & Dam 11 156 26 0 182 
Lock & Dam 12 to Lock & Dam 19 260 74 0 334 
Lock & Dam 20 to Pool 22 39 2 0 41 
Pool 22 to below St. Louis 44 20 8 ih 
Illinois River 52 17 0 69 
River Totals Sol 139 8 698 
River percentage 80% 20% 
Illinois Wildlife Refuges 18 15 0 33 
Kentucky 23 22 0 45 
Totals 592 176 8 776 
Percentage 77% 23% 
Other Reports 
Missouri 3 0 0 3 
Nebraska 174 47 0 221 
Totals 177 47 224 
Percentage | 79% 21% 
Golden Eagles—2 adulis and 4 immatures in Illinois. 
Comments: The rivers were mostly open from Lock & Dam 11 south and 
frozen northward. The open water dispersed eagles greatly and perhaps led 
to the low numbers found and the lower percentage of immatures. In early 
January the Illinois Department of Conservation’s biologists counted eagles 
in their annual water fowl survey. On the Mississippi, 302 adults and 117 
immatures were counted. On the Illinois, 83 adults and 30 immatures found. 
This totals 385 to 147 for 532. Percentage are 72% to 28%. On this February 
count we found 11 less adults and 21 less immatures. In Missouri no eagles 
were found on a flight from Lexington to St. Joseph by Richard Dawson. 
One immature Golden Eagle found by Columbia Audubon Society. In future 
years the count will be held one week earlier to avoid the Washington Birth- 
day holidays. In 1975 the count will be February 8th. 
—Elton Fawks 
