Bald eagles have been spotted at Inland Empire lakes during the second of four bird counts organized to assess how many of the birds have migrated to Southern California for the winter searching for prey.
In total, there were 13 bald eagles spotted during the count, with two adults and two juveniles seen in Lake Silverwood, two adults in Lake Hemet, two adults in Lake Arrowhead, two adults and a juvenile at Big Bear Lake and one adult in Lake Perris.
It's typical for bald eagles to fly south during winter because prey like ducks and fish become scarce when lakes in colder parts of the country freeze over. To count how many bald eagles migrated south, over 100 staff from the U.S. Forest Service, volunteers and biologists teamed up to carry out the count.
"With the recent winter storms here and up north, we expect more eagles to have moved south and are hoping to see even more on the January count. January and February are when we typically have the most bald eagles in Southern California, and it's a great time to go for a bald eagle search," said Rari Marks, a biologist with the Forest Service.
The agency is looking for volunteers to participate in the last remaining counts scheduled on Feb. 14 and March 14. No experience is necessary to join as a volunteer but brief orientations will be set to provide those volunteering with basics like where to go and what to do during a count. Typically though, stations are set up at vantage points around Inland Empire lakes. Volunteers go to their assigned stations and observe and count the number of bald eagles they see within a one-hour period. All observations are detailed on data sheets and maps to facilitate compilation.
Bald eagles are only found in North America. Adults can grow to have wingspans of up to seven feet, with females generally weighing more than the males at 12 to 13 lbs. Young bald eagles are characterized by mottled brown and white feathers, developing their characteristic white head and tail by the time they reach four or five years old.
In the wild, bald eagles are known to live up to 35 years. In captivity, that number extends to up to 50 years due to the absence of threats.
Bald eagles sit close to the top of the food chain but this has not prevented the widespread decline in their numbers. Aside from the Endangered Species Act, the bald eagle is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald Eagle Protection Act.
