Mass. Wildlife Officials To Do Annual Count Of Bald Eagle Nests

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts wildlife officials will be looking up in the trees this week as they conduct an annual count of bald eagle nests.

The state's ornithologist, Andrew Vitz, said workers and volunteers will check nests they know about on Friday and also look for eagles building new nests. They ask for the public's help every year to report sightings of eagles.

This will be the third year the state has done a spring survey of bald eagle nests, made by breeding pairs. Bald eagles are on the state's threatened species list, but the population has been growing.

In 2013, the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife counted 40 territorial pairs of eagles. In 2014, the number was up to 46 pairs. And last year, the number of pairs jumped to 51.

Massachusetts