From the Duluth News Tribune
The annual aerial survey of eagle nests in Voyageurs National Park showed 31 pairs, including 29 active nesting pairs, the most since the survey started in 1989.
"The trend is good," said Lee Grimm, park natural resource biologist.
Survey teams found 63 bald eagle nests within the boundary in April. The 29 active nesting pairs is up from 27 the past two years, 28 in 2002 and 2001 and 25 in 2000
"I think 29 is the most we've ever had," Grimm said.
To help buffer some active eagle nests from disturbances, the Park Service again is closing some camp-sites until chicks are hatched and can leave the nest. Four of the park's 225 developed visitor-use sites are affected by the temporary closures, including the Feedem Island houseboat site on Kabetogama Lake; Skipper Rock Island and Sand Bay South houseboat sites on Rainy Lake and the Granite Cliff North tent site on Sand Point Lake. Boaters, anglers and others are asked to stay at least 200 yards away from the nests and campsites.
Six undeveloped areas that visitors might use on islands and shorelines where active breeding pairs are nesting also are closed to human activity and marked with signs.
