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Annual Bald Eagle Count in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Records 605 Birds
Volunteers in the annual bald eagle count in Kings County, Nova Scotia, observed 605 bald eagles in February 2024, more than double the 265 seen in 2023. The count, which began in 1977 with only 22 eagles, monitors population trends linked to environmental changes such as the phase-out of DDT pesticides in the 1970s.
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The annual bald eagle count in Kings County, Nova Scotia, took place in February 2024 and recorded 605 bald eagles, according to CBC. This figure exceeds the 265 eagles observed in the 2023 count by more than double. The survey, initiated in 1977, initially tallied only 22 birds that year.
Soren Bondrup-Nielsen, the organizer and a naturalist, stated that the population increase reflects recovery from the impacts of DDT pesticides. He explained to CBC's Mainstreet that DDT, phased out in Canada during the 1970s and now illegal, previously poisoned eagles through contaminated carcasses and affected their eggs.
Since the prohibition, bald eagle numbers across Canada have risen by over five percent annually.
Bondrup-Nielsen noted that eagle sightings in the Annapolis Valley vary yearly. He suggested that the cold winter of 2024 may have influenced the high count, as eagles were observed feeding on Canada geese and ducks that froze on the ice in the valley. As scavengers, the eagles benefited from these conditions.
Volunteers conduct the count by driving along predetermined routes and recording every bald eagle sighted over a one-hour period to minimize duplicate observations. They then gather to compile the totals. This method has been used consistently for nearly 50 years to track the species' presence in the region.
The survey serves as a tool to monitor the ecological health of Kings County and the effects of human activities on local wildlife. Bondrup-Nielsen highlighted the abundance of naturalists in the area, partly due to the proximity of Acadia University, which provides a steady supply of volunteers. He described participation as aligned with the community's interest in natural history.
Bald eagles, once threatened, have shown a nationwide recovery following environmental protections. The Kings County count contributes to broader data on raptor populations in Nova Scotia. Future counts will continue to assess trends amid ongoing climate and habitat changes.
