Bald Eagle Nest Survey Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska

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Nest occupancy and reproductive success of the large breeding populations of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) within parks in the Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN), including Katmai National Park & Preserve (KATM), have been selected as a “vital sign” for monitoring as they are indicative of the health of both freshwater and marine ecosystems. Records of nesting activity were collected from 1974-1997 in KATM, but monitoring lapsed from 1998- 2010. In 2011, we reinitiated eagle surveys in KATM following a standardized sampling protocol with an initial double-count aerial survey in May to determine nest locations and occupancy, and a follow-up survey in July to assess productivity. Objectives of this report were (1) map all empty and incubating eagle nests located in the Naknek drainage of KATM in 2011, (2) summarize historic KATM bald eagle nesting data, and (3) discuss techniques that can be used for future consistent monitoring.