8/9/2019 Eagle biology: Spotting America's symbol a stable of January

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Kelly Davis Indep('udE'nt-MaiITim Lee of the South Carolina Department of Parks,Rec reation and Tourism scans the Lake Jocassee shoreline for eaglesduring the annual mid-January nationwide eagle survey.a eag attrBy Kelly DavisInctepen\ientMmI

Tim Lee got up at 5:30 a.m.Thursday, drove an hourfrom Caesar's Head toDevil's Fork State Park.limbed on a pontoan boat in22 degree weather andcraned his neck at the lake'sentire shoreline for the nextfive hours.It was worth it to see fourbald eagles, sightings thestate Departmen t of Parks,Recreation and Tourisminterpreter duly noted andforwarded to Department ofNatur al Resources biologistTom Murphy:

Mr Murphy is coordinator of South Carolina's contribution to the U.S .Geological Survey's MidWinter Eagle Count, whichoccurs every January.The scenery wasn' t toobad, either. The morn ingsun washed the imposingpine, hemlock and hardwood-covered hills aroundthe lake a brilliant pink,contrasting with a perfectlyblue sky: The only otller peo-ple on the lake were die-hardfishermen.Joining Mr. Lee, the offi-cial recorder, was observerScott Stegenga, an inter-

preter at Table Rock StatePark. and navigator AlAddington, resident interpreter at OevU's Fork.Bald eagles stay nearwater because their maindiet is fish and waterfowl, hesaid. They are more likely tobe found along the shorelines of coves, where theyfeel more protected.The route started at themain dock and woundaround the jagged contoursof the lake and some of thelarger branches: Devil'sFork, Whitewater,Thompson , Horsepasture,Toxaway:

crowd"Eagles have been spottedevery monU1 of the year onLake Jocassee," Mr. Leeaid.Al though there is nodefinitive proof of nestingand breeding, that factmakes him believe there areresident bald eagles.The U.S. GeologicalSurvey count is conductedby more than 100 people inSouth Carolina, from volunteers to staff from state andfederal agencies. They cover1 872 miles of routes, Mr.Murphy said. In 2002, they

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8/9/2019 Eagle biology: Spotting America's symbol a stable of January

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