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Apple River) Terrence N. Ingram, Executive Director of the Eagle Nature Foundation, ENF, has just released the results of the 2012 Annual Midwinter Bald Eagle Count, which ENF sponsors each year. This is the 52nd year for this one day count to be conducted. For more than 30 years Mr. Ingram has compiled and coordinated this count, which is actually conducted by hundreds of volunteers across the Midwest from Minnesota to Tennessee.

This year only 1,953 bald eagles were counted, which is 89 fewer birds than in 2011. But there were about 50 more adults seen in 2012, than were seen in 2011. The percentage of immatures compared to adults was only 26.2% which is 7% fewer than last year. This was caused by 200 fewer immatures being seen this year than in 2011. This flies in the face of all of the statements made by the Fish & Wildlife Service and the state DNR’s, which state that each year their personnel estimate that their state is raising more young than the year before. If a record number of young are being raised each year, where are they? If we can believe their statements more young eagles should be in the environment to be counted than at any time in recent history. If they are truly being fledged then something must happening to them during that first year.

The Wisconsin River seems to holding its own with its percentage of young remaining fairly constant at about 41%, while the Illinois River is losing its immatures with the percentage down to 27.1%, where for years it was close to 45%. The total number of young on the Illinois River was about 200 birds fewer than last year. The Rock River lost 17 immatures while the Mississippi River gained about 40. At the same time the Mississippi River gained about 450 adults, which resulted in their percentage of young dropping 7%, down to 30%.

The last 10 year average of percentage of young 25.2% is still below the 52 year average of 27.6%. It is lower than it was for the ten years prior to the bald eagle being declared endangered.

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For more information contact: Terrence N. Ingram, Exec. Director, Eagle Nature Foundation, 300 East Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001 Phone 815-594-2306