HomeMy WebLinkAboutFour Corners Eagle Mgmt PlanBald Eagle Nesting Territory Management Plan
Four Corners, Jefferson County
Territory ~91, Sec. ~ T 29 N R. 1W
Dec enfi ,,,: ~ s~9 I
Prepared for-
Broders, Inc.
4503 Old GardJner Road
Port Townsend. WA 98388
Prepared by:
Anita McMillan
Washington Department of Wildlife
905 E. Heron
Aberdeen, WA 98520
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction ........................... : ....................
Site Description ............................................
Eagle Ecology ...............................................
Proposed Land Use ...........................................
Management Terms and Condition, s .............................
Monitor and Review ..........................................
Compliance ..................................................
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INTRODUCTION
The bald eagle is listed by the U.S. Department of Interior as a
threatened species in Washington. The protection of nesting,
roosting, and foraging habitats is critical to the effort to
remove the bald eagle from threatened species status in
Washington State. The bald eagle protection rules (WAC 232-12-
292) and the enabling legislation (RCW 77.12.655) were enacted in
1986 to provide protection to important eagle habitats. These
rules were developed by a committee of landowners, the realty in-
dustry, and conservation organizations. The Washington
Department of Wildlife (WDW) is directed by these rules to meet
with landowners and state and local agencies to develop manage-
ment plans for eagle nest territories ahd roosts that may be
impacted by land use changes. Appendix 1 includes these rules
and some other laws that provide protection to bald eagles and
their habitat.
The purpose of the bald eagle protection rules is to protect the
habitat, and thereby increase and maintain the population of the
bald eagle so that the species no longer is classified as
threatened or endangered in Washington State. The Pacific Bald
Eagle Recovery Plan identifies the de]isting criteria as follows:
]) Minimum of 800 pairs nesting in the Pacific recovery area
IWashington, Oregon, California, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and
Nevada)' 2) average reproduction rate of ].0 fledged young per
pair with an average success rate per occupied site of not less
t. han 65% over a five year period; ~) attainment of breeding
population goals in at least 80% of the management zones with
nesting potential (there are 47 management zones in the seven
states within the Pacific Recovery Area); and 4) stable or in-
creasing wintering populations.
The Four Corners bald eagle nesting terri%ory is located in the
Washington Coast Recovery Zone - ~1. The Habitat Management Goal
for Zone ~1 is 101 which is the minimum number of territories
needed to sustain secure habitat for the recovered population.
WDW has identified 98 occupied territories within this zone
during 19~0. The habitat within most. of these territories has
not been secured from potential land use impacts. According to
the Pacific Bald Eagle Recovery Plan, "Habitat occupied by bald
eagles must continue to be protected and managed... Forest stands
used by eagles must be managed to manintain the long-term
availability of nest sites, roosts, and foraging habitat."
Because of rapidly increasing impacts by humans on the Pacific
Northwest landscape, bald eagle recovery hinges upon our ability
to identify and properly manage bald eagle habitat. The primary'
threats to bald eagles in Washington are habitat degradation and
human disturbance.
This is a cooperative management plan between WDW and Broders,
Inc.. The purpose of this management plan is to create site-
specific management procedures that maintain a productive bald
eagle nesting
of the timber.
territory and allow the landowner to harvest some
SITE.DESCRIPTION
Location
The Four Corners bald eagle nesting territory is located in
Jefferson County, on the east side of Discovery Bay (west side of
Quimper Peninsula) approximately one mile south of Four Corners
(Figure 1). The nest tree is located east of Highway 20, and the
primary foraging area west of the Highway 20 along the Discovery
Bay shoreline.
Site Characteristics
Nest tree ~1 is located on the southern '~dge of a fairly open
conifer stand with scattered mature and old growth conifers
(primarily Douglas fir and Western Red Cedar). To the south and
west of the nest tree is a younger more dense conifer stand. The
understory in the vicinity of the nest tree includes swordfern,
rhodedendron, blackberry and elderberry. Nest tree ~] is a 42"
(1.1 m) diameter at breast height (dbh) Douglas fir. The nest
tree is approximately 105 feet (32 m) in height with the nest lo-
cated at approximately 97 feet (30 m) in height. The nest tree
is located at. approximately 240 feet (73 m) above sea level,
about ]350 feet (412 m) east of 'the Discovery Bay shoreline.
Current Land Use
Presen~ ]? the Rroders Inc. ownership includes 92.35 acres in the
middle i]a]f of Section 5 that is being managed as forestland, and
another ,~].'? acres of tidelands adjacent to the forest]and that
~s bei~g managed for shellfish harvesting. North and south of
the Broders Inc. ownership, along the shoreline, are residences
where much of the forest stand has been removed.
EAGLE ECOLOGY
Historic Use and Productivity
The Four Corners bald eagle nesting territory was first dis-
covered by WDW in 1989. There was one eaglet raised during 1~89,
two eaglets raised during 1990 and one eaglet raised during 1991.
During these years no alternate nest trees were located.
There are five nesting territories along Discovery Bay. The
productivity history for these territories has been 0.75 young
per occupied territory with a success rate of 58% (Table 1).'
This is. below the overall recovery goals of 1.0 young per oc-
cupied territory with a success rate of ~8%.
.Nesting Biology
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Few specifics are known about eagle behavior at the Four Corners
site. However, information collected at other bald eagle nest
sites in the Pacific Northwest provides the following information
relevant to management of this site:
Nest Chronology- In Washington courtship and nest building ac-
tivities occur during January and February. Eggs are laid in
late March to early April (usually one or two, but occasionally
up to four eggs are laid). Hatching occurs in late-April to mid-
May after a 35 day incubation period. After 10 to 12 weeks, the
eaglets will take their first flights. Eaglets usually leave the
nest in late-July to mid August, often remaining in the vicinity
for an additional month.
Bald eagles are extremely sensitive to..disturbance during the
early part of the nesting cycle. Disturbance from activities
such as land clearing, logging, helicopter use, vehicle use, and
home construction can cause adults to abandon sites prior to egg
laying or later may flush them from nests and expose the eggs or
eaglets to the elements and predators. As the time of fledging
approaches, these disturbances may frighten young from the nest
before they can fJy. From late summer until the ~'olJow~r~g
January, ad~lt eagles are less sensitive to activities near nests
as they tend to occupy peripheral areas of the home range to a
greater degree or leave the area entirely.
Home Range- Eagles occupy ranges that may cover up to l0 square
miles (26 square kilomeners), depending on the availability of
prey and the quality of nesting, roosting, and foraging habitats.
Territories, or core areas of a home range, are defended from ad-
jacent nesting pairs of eagles.
Nest and Perch Trees- Eagles usually select large, overly-mature
conifers for nest trees. Trees with large gnarled limbs or
strong crotches in the upper branches provide ideal platforms for
supporting nests. Eagles tend to reuse the same nest from year
to year but often maintain at least one alternate nest on the
territory. Though alternate nests may appear to be abandoned,
eagles often return to use these nests after a few years of non-
use.
Old-growth and mature conifers, and large snags are also impor-
tant for perching, roosting, and foraging. Perching may occur
throughout the home range in trees which facilitate food acquisi-
tion : and consumption, mating display, territorialism, nest
defense and efficient thermoregulation. Such trees are typically
in e~evated areas in close proximity to food and allow for good
visua~ access to adjacent habitat. Roosting usually occurs in
treesi with well developed canopies or in locations that afford
protedtion from rain and prevailing winds. Foraging trees are
located near the food source, which is often the body of water
nearest the nest.
Prey- Eagle food habits are extremely varied, but typically in-
clud~ fish, waterfowl, seabirds, carrion, and occasionally small
mammals. Eagles forage opportunistically and diets tend to vary
in response to changes in prey availability.
PROPOSED LAND USE
The proposed land use is to partial cut within the Broders
ownership.
Inc.
MANAGEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Known aspects of the ecology of bald eagles allow for the deter-
mination of an Eagle Management Area (EMA) around the Dungeness
nesting territory. The EMA is designed to maintain the integrity
of the territory by protecting the existing eagle nest tree~
primary perch trees, foraging areas, and potential habitat.
Protected Areas- The intent of these areas is. to maintain hab~_
as it ex]st.s. Within this area there will not be any habitat
terations. The tide]ands within the Protected Area may lna~nta~
the present level of shellfish harvesting activities.
The Protected Area will consist of a minimum of a 500 foot (152
m)¢-~i~~r~_~c_e ~ around the nest. tree, and a 1100 foot (335
._-~rip along Discovery BaY west of the old railroad right of way
of t. he nest tree and extends
that
begins
directly
WeSL
(Figure 2).
Within the protected area, human activities having permanen% ef-
fects may not occur. These activities include, but are non
limited to, clearing, road building, logging, use of chemicals.
Secondary Protected Area- The intent of these areas is to main-
tain some habitat components that. are important in the foraging
activities of the eagles as well as provide for future nest.
trees. In this area a maximum of 30% of the merchantable timber
may be harvested, as long as a minimum of 10 trees per 100 fee~.
oral'shoreline that are retained are.'> 28" dbh.
The Secondary Protected Area will consist of a 1000 foot (305 m}
stri~ along Discovery Bay west of the old railroad right of way
thatlbegins directly west of the nest tree and extends south
(Figure 2).
Conditioned Areas- The intent of these areas is to minimize dis-.
tU~b~nce that could 'diSrupt 'ea~le aCtivities within the EMAC-
This'may include time and/or activity provisions or recommenda-
tions for maintaining large trees at certain locations.
The conditioned Area will consist of a 1000 foot (305 m) distance
to the south, east and north of the nest tree that extends west
to the north end of the Protected Area and to the south end of
the Secondary Protected Area (FigUre 2).
bu~ld~g,, timber harvest activities, aircraft use, use of chemi-X'~
cals, and vehicle use (off of Highway 20) will not be allowed
w~h~n _~e conditioned area between January 1 and AuguSt 15 each !
year. This is necessary to ensure that human disturbances do not
~~ nest abandonment or nesting failure. ~
MONITOR MD ~I~
Implementation of the plan as it relates to the property will
begin when the landowner agrees to the plan. If the WDW and the
landowner cannot agree to the plan, the landowner can refer the
plan to the Bald Eagle Oversight Committee or file a formal ap-
peal as outlined in WAC 232-197.
The conditions of the plan do not supercede local, county, state,
federal, or other regulations that are related to environmental
protection (e.g. Shoreline Management Act, SEPA process). It is
the responsibility of the landowners to notify the WDW of
proposed land management activities within t~e EMA that will af-
fect the management plan. The ~and owners are encouraged
participate in monitoring eagle activ]tJes and to keep writt~
records of information that would be useful in refining the plan.
All bald eagle nests are monitored by WDW. This monitoring
generally performed with aircraft to determine eagle presence
during April (occupancy] and results of their breeding, effor~
during June (productivity). Monitoring is also used to assess
any changes affecting nest sites, including development and
pacts to eagles. In sites with management plans, it is also used
~o assure plan compliance.
COMPLIANCE
Failure to comply with the plan constitutes a misdemeanor as set.
forth in RCW 77.21.010. Bald eagles and their habitats ar~
protected by other state and federal laws (Appendix 1).
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