Well, part of the low raptor (particlarly eagle) reproductive numbers has
to do with the effects of El Nino--statistically, the waters are warmer
(and usually also muddier, due to the higher rain and flood levels, so the
eggs that are laid get suffocated). Therefore, fish reproductive levels
are lower, which resonates to lower reproductive levels for higher trophic
levels.

-Jacki Bricker


On Tue, 10 Feb 1998, Mike Patterson wrote:

> >The $64,000 question. The timing of this thread is great (for me), since
> >I am working on a list of WA species particularly sensitive to human
> >impacts. The Bald Eagle was one of the species we had the biggest
> >arguement over. Assuming DDT continues to be banned in the US, and
> >whole-sale raptor slaughter continues to be illegal, should the Bald Eagle
> >be on that list? Numbers in WA are evidently rising or remaining stable
> >and B. Eagle populations are high.
> >
>
>
> Wintering populations are up and nesting attempts are up, but productivity,
> especially in some parts of the PNW are still spotty. Here on the Lower
> Columbia River, the productivity is half what it is elsewhere in its range.
> DDE, PCB's, mercury, lead and cadnium are still found at high level in
> resident birds. If we base de-listing on total population, we may lose the
> capacity to protect populations that are still in trouble.
>
> Scale is a very important component for consideration in biological questions.
> You can make just about any problem go away if you stand back far enough and
> if you stand too close you can miss the big picture.
>
>
>
> --
> *********************************
> * Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * 2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilomockingbirds
> * mpatters at orednet.org *
> http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters
>

-Jacki