Fish and Wildlife Service

Description

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has operated a State of Michigan statewide bald eagle productivity flight survey for many years. The purpose of the survey is to monitor existing bald eagle breeding areas, and determine mating pair nest occupancy, egg laying, egg incubation, hatching success and fledging success. MDNR licensed pilots work with MDNR and independently contracted observers. The observers and a volunteer compile productivity data that is then made available to State, Federal, and academic partners. The data are important to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in determining productivity in Areas of Concern (AOC) that are designated under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement as well as in non-AOC reference locations. The Service also uses bald eagle nest data to help inform project planning and to assist the public in compliance with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Finally, State, Federal and academic partners may reference current survey data to further investigate and monitor bald eagles as indicator species of aquatic ecosystem health. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant to the MDNR without competition under justification 505DM 2.14.B.2 and 4. Competition for this award is not practical as MDNR has operated a State of Michigan bald eagle productivity flight survey for years and therefore is uniquely qualified to collect the data required. Further these pilots have a collaborative relationship with the observers and an intimate understanding of the nesting territories and AOC boundaries which enables the best possible data collection for this study. The MDNR pilots are necessary to ensure continuity of data collection and high data quality which can be comparable to pass data.

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

Mandy Annis 517-351-8318<br/>mandy_annis@fws.gov<br/>
mandy_annis@fws.gov