Cochiti Lake, N.M. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff at Cochiti Lake will host a midwinter eagle survey at the lake, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. No pre-registration is required, and all are welcome to participate.
The event is free and open to the public. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Cochiti Lake Visitor Center. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. Hot coffee and snacks will be provided during registration.
A presentation about eagles and other potential bird sightings will begin at 9:30 a.m. The count will start at 10:00 a.m. and run until noon.
All volunteers are asked to dress warmly and consider current weather conditions. Spotting scopes, binoculars, and/or long-range cameras are also recommended to aid in spotting eagles.
The purpose of the eagle count survey is to gather individuals to help count eagles along standard, non-overlapping survey routes as part of a nationwide midwinter bald eagle survey. It is also a great opportunity to encourage shared environmental stewardship efforts with the public to promote wildlife conservation.
National Wildlife Federation officials have asked participants in each state to count eagles along standard routes to provide data on count trends. The basic objectives of the survey are to index the total wintering bald eagle populations in the lower 48 states, determine eagle distribution during a standardized survey period, and identify previously unrecognized areas of important winter habitat.
The annual midwinter survey represents a unique source of long-term, baseline data. Unlike nesting surveys, this provides information on both breeding and non-breeding segments of the population at a potentially limiting time of the year. The count has become a national tradition since 1984 and is an annual event at Abiquiu Lake. In addition to providing information on eagle trends, distribution, and habitat, the count has helped to create public interest in bald eagles and their conservation.
To participate in the event, come to the Cochiti Lake Visitor center at 82 Dam Crest Road, Pena Blanca, N.M., 87041, at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. No pre-registration is required, and all are welcome.
-30-