Tomorrow morning the first bald eagle count for the San Bernardino National Forest in the 2017-18 winter season will be held. The annual winter bald eagle counts take place on the second Saturday of December, January, February and March.
Several dozen bald eagles typically spend their winters around Southern California’s lakes, adding to a few resident nesting bald eagles that stay year-round. The Sentinel has the figures on last winter’s counts, with the exception of February, for which the numbers were not available.
On Saturday December 10, 2016, a total of eleven bald eagles, consisting of seven adults and four juveniles were spotted by observers during a one-hour period that morning. Two adult bald eagles were observed by 28 people at Lake Perris State Recreation Area. Fifteen participants spotted a pair of adults at Lake Hemet. No eagles were seen at the Silverwood State Recreation Area. Six participants at Lake Arrowhead spotted two adult bald eagles. Forty participants at Big Bear Lake tallied one adult and four juveniles.
On January 14, 2017, the count was conducted at Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, Lake Hemet and Lake Perris State Recreation Area, but did not take place at Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead/Lake Gregory because of heavy snowfall there just prior to the weekend. Local federal and state biologists said citizen volunteers spotted a total of four bald eagles, all adults, during the one-hour count period. At Lake Perris State Recreation Area, one adult bald eagle was observed by 33 people. Seven participants watched a pair of adult eagles at Lake Hemet. At Lake Silverwood, 22 eagle counters were thrilled to see a single adult bald eagle.
Count numbers from the February 2017 count  were not available to the Sentinel.
On Saturday March 11, 2017, clear skies and lack of wind made excellent observation conditions for over 200 participants scanning the sky, tree tops, and shorelines. Twelve bald eagles, seven adults and five subadults, were counted during the one-hour count period at four lakes within the San Bernardino National Forest jurisdiction. Two juveniles were observed at Lake Silverwood; two adults and a single juvenile at Lake Arrowhead; two adults at Lake Hemet, and three adults and two juveniles at Big Bear Lake.
The highest number of bald eagles in southern California occurs between December and March when eagles migrate here for the winter. By the end of March, most of the migrant bald eagles have headed back north to their nesting areas. After decades of no bald eagles nesting in Southern California, there are now some nesting pairs that stay year-round.
This winter season, the counts will be held tomorrow, December 9, as well as on January 13, February 10 and March 10. No reservations are needed; just show up at a designated location at the start time with binoculars and a way to keep time. And don’t forget to dress for winter weather! Location details are as follows:
Big Bear Lake area volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive for orientation. Contact Robin Eliason (reliason@fs.fed.us) or 909-382-2832 for more information. Please call 909-382-2832 for cancellation due to winter weather conditions—an outgoing message will be left by 6:30 a.m. the day of the count. After the count at 11 a.m., Eliason will present a free program about bald eagles.
Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Skyforest Ranger Station for orientation. Contact Robin Eliason (reliason@fs.fed.us) or 909-382-2832 for more information. Please call 909-382-2832 for cancellation due to winter weather conditions—an outgoing message will be left by 6:30 a.m. the day of the count.
Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area volunteers should plan to meet at the visitor center at 8 a.m. for orientation. Contact Mark Wright of California State Parks for more information about volunteering or taking an eagle tour. Wright can be reached at 760-389-2303 or mark.wright@parks.ca.gov.
Lake Hemet volunteers should plan on meeting at the Lake Hemet Grocery Store at 8:30 a.m. for orientation. For more information, contact Ann Bowers at annbowers@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2935.
Lake Perris State Recreation Area volunteers should plan to meet at the Lake Perris Regional Indian Museum at 8 a.m. for orientation. For more information, call California State Parks at 951-940-5600 or the museum at 951-940-5657.
Those who can’t make the counts can still try to see bald eagles around our local lakes this winter. Contact the Big Bear Discovery Center (909-382-2790) or the Idyllwild Ranger Station (909-382-2921) for eagle watching tips and etiquette on the San Bernardino National Forest.