DNR Offers Rare Opportunity to View Bald Eagle
Eagle Watch program to be held at Pocomoke River State Park January 13

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SNOW HILL —  The Maryland State Park Service is pleased to announce that one of the nation’s most beloved national symbols, the bald eagle, has found its way back to Pocomoke River State Park. Marylanders from across the state are expected to flock to the park on Saturday, January 13, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to participate in a rare opportunity to view this most majestic of birds. Reservations are required for the Eagle Watch and a small charge applies.

“The American bald eagle usually arrives in late December and continues to roost in an area of the park less visited,” said Karen Garrett, park naturalist at Pocomoke River State Park. “The bald eagle travels to milder temperatures during winter months. Eagles have been spotted hunting and feeding on fish on the open water of the Pocomoke River and undisturbed habitat.”

Program participants will hike with the naturalist approximately one mile while participating in interactive stations learning about the life history of the bald eagle, discovering what they eat, and spotting signs the birds left behind. From there, participants will explore the roosting sites of the bald eagle listen for their calls and catch a glimpse of the eagles soaring in the sky. Participants are encouraged to bring a pair of binoculars to allow for a better view of the birds, carry bottled water, bring a camera and dress appropriately for the cold weather and terrain with proper footwear and clothing.

Once endangered, the bald eagle’s numbers have increased dramatically over the past two and a half decades. In Maryland, the number of nesting eagles has increased significantly since the mid-1970s, with 383 pairs nesting in 2004 (compared to 41 pairs in 1977). The ban on the use of DDT and other pesticides in 1972 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency started the recovery. DDT caused the eagles to lay thin-shelled eggs, which cracked during the incubation process. Cracked eggs do not produce young. Once this pesticide was no longer used, the environment was able to slowly rid itself of the contaminant and eagles started to nest successfully. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and others continue to protect nesting sites under the authority of the Endangered Species Act.

Reservations are required for the Eagle Watch program and can be made by calling the Pocomoke River State Park at 410-632-2566 ext. 106. There is a service charge of $5 per person. For more information on outdoor recreational opportunities offered at Pocomoke River State Park, visit, www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/pocomokeriver.html

For more information about bald eagles in Maryland, visit www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/baldeagle.html

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December 18, 2006

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov