13 Dead Bald Eagles Prompt Investigation, $10,000 Reward

by Denise Chow, Sci-Tech Editor | February 23, 2016 02:36pm ET

Thirteen bald eagles were found dead recently in Maryland, prompting officials to offer a reward of up to $10,000 for information about what happened to the federally protected birds of prey. The eagles were found in Federalsburg, Maryland, on Feb. 20, after a local resident reported seeing several of the dead birds in a field, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Maryland Natural Resources Police. 

Bald eagles were listed as an endangered species in the lower 48 states after the birds nearly went extinct in the 1960s. Though bald eagles are no longer listed under the Endangered Species Act, they are still federally protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, enacted in 1940, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, according to the FWS. These federal laws carry maximum fines of $100,000 and $15,000, respectively, and violators could face up to one year in prison, agency officials said.

The FWS is offering up to $2,500 for information about the dead bald eagles. The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust are also contributing up to $5,000. The Phoenix Wildlife Center, Inc., a wildlife rehabilitation center located in Phoenix, Maryland, is also offering $2,500 in exchange for information, according to the FWS.

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Maryland v. Osprey: The battle of the nest

By Susan L. Ruth, Communities Digital News

Osprey nest at MD Transportation traffic camera

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2014 — There has been a battle raging in Maryland over the past week between two federally protected Ospreys and the Terrapin State.

The conflict started a week ago when the Maryland Transportation Authority noticed an Osprey nest being build around a traffic camera along the Chesapeak Bay Bridge.

The large nest was being built at the top of a camera pole located at the toll plaza for the busy bridge.

The first problem was that as the nest grew, the camera’s view was being blocked and second was that the birds did not seem to like sharing their newly chosen nesting area with the camera and started attacking it.

According to the local news source, WTOP, the Transportation Authority reached out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for assistance in relocating the nest before more damage was done to the $6,000 camera and before any eggs were laid.

Once eggs or young birds are in the nest it becomes more difficult to move and would require a permit.

The nest was removed, and the birds rebuilt another one in the same location on the traffic camera pole.

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Army, University of Maryland create realistic robotic bird

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - A robotic bird created by Army and University of Maryland researchers is tricking real flocks -- and hawks -- midair, making it a potential unsuspecting future war agent.

Robo-Raven glides, soars and flaps like a real bird. Complete individual wing control allows for extreme aerobatics that no other mechanical bird has ever been able to perform, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command researchers claim. But its ability to hide in plain sight and light weight is what excites researchers most.

"It already attracts attention from birds in the area which tends to hide its presence," said John Gerdes, a mechanical engineer with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory Vehicle Technology Directorate at APG.

Seagulls, songbirds and sometimes crows tend to try to fly in a formation near the bird during testing, but birds of prey, like falcons and hawks take a much more aggressive approach toward test flights.

"Generally we don't see them coming," Gerdes said. "They will dive and attack by hitting the bird from above with their talons, then they typically fly away."

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/115723/army-university-maryland-create-realistic-robotic-bird#.UnAam3Dwm5w#ixzz2j938YIYU

Scientists begin tracking migratory songbirds with NASA radar on Delmarva Peninsula

NEWARK, Maryland — A team of scientists is using a high-tech NASA radar to monitor the fall migration of birds over the Delmarva Peninsula.

The News Journal (http://delonline.us/193WIgF ) reports scientists will be looking at where birds are stopping, eating and lingering as they examine the best habitats that remain for the region's migratory song birds.

University of Delaware researcher Jeff Buler says the majority of birds are migrating at night. He says residents can hear their flight calls if you listen carefully.

The NASA Polarimetric radar in Newark, Maryland, is normally used to study rainfall. But birds don't typically migrate when it's raining, so scientists can use the radar for both types of research.

Researchers from the Nature Conservancy and Old Dominion University are also collaborating on the project.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/cbbdbb2e4b194f6ea32e102a87914ce9/DE--NASA-Radar-Bird-Tracking