DNR Offers Rare Opportunity To Observe Bald Eagle
Pocomoke River State Park Hosts Eagle Watch on January 12

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SNOW HILL, MD — The Maryland Park Service will host an Eagle Watch in Pocomoke River State Park on January 12, 2008 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Worcester County.

“The American bald eagle travels to milder temperatures in the winter giving us in Maryland a wonderful opportunity to witness our beloved national symbol,” said Karen Garrett, Pocomoke River State Park Naturalist.

Program participants will hike approximately one mile while taking part in interactive stations, learning about the life history and diet of the bald eagle, and identifying clues that the birds leave behind. Participants will explore roosting sites of the bald eagle, listen for their calls and witness eagles soaring in the sky.

Reservations are required. RSVP by emailing pocomokepaddler@dnr.state.md.us  or calling 410-632-2566, ext. 115.

Once endangered, the bald eagle’s numbers have increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Recovering from a population low of just 41 pairs in 1977, the number of nesting eagles in Maryland has increased significantly, with 383 pairs nesting in 2004. The ban on the use of DDT and other pesticides in 1972 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency started the recovery. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and others continue to protect nesting sites under the authority of the Endangered Species Act.

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January 7, 2008

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov