'. BALD EAGLES ON THE BRUDENELL RIVER lby Clare Martin (Stanhope, P.E.I.)

: On August 2, 1979, while canoeing up the Brudenell River, "I sighted a Bald Eagle perched in a tall spruce tree. A few

_ days later and further up river I saw what was probably the

= same bird.

Bald Eagles have been known to use the area since at least the 1960's when a pair resided in Brudenell Provincial ; Park. Their nest, in top of a white pine tree, afforded the 1 eagles an excellent view of the Brudenell River as well as the eleventh tee of the Park's golf course. In 1969, the male 4 disappeared and was thought to have been shot. Over the years the old nest blew down and was not reconstructed. Meanwhile 5 the female returned alone each year to summer along the j Brudenell River. In 1978 she came back with a new mate. 5 Together they constructed a new nest and raised two young. 3 Another nest was built in 1979, this one occupied by three 5.young. The whereabouts of the new nesting area has not been \ j disclosed by the Fish and Wildlife Division since officials i there wish to minimize disturbance at the nest and protect ' the eagles from the fate of the male in 1969.

Bald Eagles are large birds which can be identified by ; their size (male wingspan is

6 to 7 feet; female wing span

. is 6.5 to 7.5 feet). Both sexes ; are marked by pure white col- curing of the head, neck, tail

7 and upper tail coverts on an

‘ otherwise brown body.

Bald Eagles usually live

, near rivers, lakes and sea coasts where they feed on

items, mostly fish, cast up

on the shore. Nests are typically built in tree tops

1 and are constructed of sticks of 1 various sizes. They are used

, from year to year, with new

3 material being added annually.

1 As a result, nests may become quite large after a few years of . use.

., The status of the Bald Eagle on Prince Edward Island is Lgrare (i.e. l to 5 sightings per season), even though the Island 53is now being used as a breeding place. Like many Islanders,

5 the Brudenell Bald Eagles may feel that P.E.I. is a good place f for 'kids" to grow up.