Virginia enjoyed another record breaking Spring gobbler harvest as 18,240 wild turkeys were harvested by hunters. This resulted in an increase of 24 percent over the 2000 Spring harvest. Information provided by Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) showed an even more significant increase in Spring gobbler harvests taken in locales West of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here, hunters took 6,909 gobblers for a 34 percent increase over the previous Spring season. East of the Blue Ridge, the 2001 Spring harvest was up by 19 percent for a total of 11,331 bearded birds. In a July 12 press release DGIF Director, Bill Woodfin, noted that, “These numbers affirm the management decisions made by our professional wildlife staff in our efforts to increase the wild turkey population in Virginia.” 

     Among the background and reasoning provided by Virginia’s DGIF supporting the record 2001 Spring harvest are the shorter fall turkey hunting season adopted in 1995. This action increased wild turkey survival to include more numbers of female turkeys continuing to produce pout offspring in following season years. The DGIF also noted that the 2001 Spring gobbler season included favorable conditions which may have led to increased hunter success.

     Those with interest in the Chesapeake Region’s bald eagle population have received an “airborne” update from the Maryland side of the Potomac River. It has been 25 years since their number of nesting bald eagle pairs was over 300. A July, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) press release noted that during the Spring of 2001, Maryland counted 315 nesting pairs in the state. Maryland DNR Wildlife Biologist, Glenn Therres, who has significant experience with bald eagle across the state was quoted as saying, “This is the first time since the species was listed as endangered that over 300 pairs of bald eagles have nested in Maryland. These numbers are comparable to the eagle population in the 1930s.” 

     During the Spring, 2001 survey conducted by Maryland, bald eagles were found to be nesting in 20 counties and produced 432 young. Dorchester County, on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore, led the survey count with 75 nesting pairs with 110 young.  Southern Maryland’s Charles County followed with 44 pairs and 55 young. Most of the nesting doccumented in Maryland occured near the Chesapeake Bay and the tidal rivers flowing into it. A survey conducted by Maryland’s DNR in 1977 showed only 41 nesting pairs that produced 45 young. In 1990, the number of nesting pairs exceeded 100 and in 1996 they pushed pass the 200 pair mark. 

     According to information provided by the Maryland DNR, bald eagles can start building their nests as early as October. After the eagle courtship ritual begins in December or January, eggs are laid during February or March. By late March or April the eggs hatch and the young eaglets spend 12 weeks in the nest. Then, in late May or during June, the young begin flying. The adults spend one to two months teaching the young eagles how to hunt. 

© 2001 Chelly & Steve Scala All Rights Reserved.