The Relation of Bald Eagles to Breeding Ducks in New Brunswick

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Abstract
A study was made of the role of the eagles in the ecology of breeding waterfowl by observing their feeding habits and analysing the remains of 138 eagle meals. It was found that during the period March-November 90% of the food eaten consisted of fish of eight species, only one of which, the gaspereaux, is of commercial importance. Birds made up 9% of the food eaten, and mammals made up 1%. During the winter months when fish food was relatively unavailable the eagles were found to be primary predators of some importance to waterfowl in local areas, but during the breeding season they lived in harmony with the ducks on the freshwater marshes. Some individual eagles continued to prey upon the ducks throughout the summer months, but they were too few to be of any importance to the waterfowl production of the area. A recommendation is made that in areas where this predation is important during the winter months an alternative source of fish food such as cannery offal be made available to the eagles. Food preference tests indicate that they will take fish in preference to either ducks or mammals if it is available.

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