Effects of Human Disturbance on Nesting of Bald Eagles

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Abstract
Known nests of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) on the Chippewa National Forest were divided into 3 groups reflecting degrees of isolation, called wilderness factors. The eagle nest under consideration were occupied 182 times from 1963-66. The rate of occupancy was essentially the same for each group. Nests in the high wilderness-factor category were successful 54% of the time, in the moderate category 57%, and in the low category 48%. None of these differences are statistically significant, indicating that human activity at levels existing on the Chippewa is not an important source of disturbance and has no measurable effect on nesting success or nest occupancy. Most human activity around nest sites in this region occurred during the latter part of the nesting cycle when family ties were strongest. Habitat modified by timber management in the immediate vicinity of nest sites did not appear to affect nesting activity. Failure of eagles to produce young on the Chippewa must be related to some factor other than human disturbance.

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