Spotted! Bald Eagles at Riverside County Lakes

PHOTO: A bald eagle soars in Southern California on Jan. 10, 2015. COURTESY: U.S. Forest Service.

Three adult bald eagles were spotted at lakes in Hemet and Perris during the second of four counts aimed at assessing how many of the birds migrated to Southern California during the winter in search of prey, U.S. Forest Service officials said Sunday.

Two adult eagles were seen at Lake Hemet and one adult eagle was seen at Lake Perris during the census on Saturday.

More than 100 biologists, Forest Service staff and volunteers visited lakes throughout Southern California to count the number of adult and juvenile bald eagles.

Bald Eagles typically migrate south during the winter months because prey animals like fish and ducks become unavailable when lakes in colder climates freeze over, officials said.

In all, 13 bald eagles were seen at six different Southern California lakes.

USFS officials are seeking volunteers for the two remaining counts of the winter, one on Feb. 14 and the other March 14.

• Big Bear Lake area volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the ForestService’s Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive for orientation. Contact Rari Marks (rariemarks@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2600 x4022) for more information. Please call 909-382-2832 for cancellation due to winter weather conditions – an outgoing message will be left by 6:30 am on the morning of the count if it has to be cancelled. Contact the Discovery Center (909-382-2790) for information about EagleCelebrations. There will also be a free slideshow about bald eagles at11:00 after the counts and on January 17th.
• Lake Arrowhead/Lake Gregory volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Skyforest Ranger Station for orientation. Contact Rari Marks (rariemarks@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2600 x4022) for more information. Please call 909-382-2832 for cancellation due to winter weather conditions – an outgoing message will be left by 6:30 am on the morning of the count if it has to be cancelled.
• Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area volunteers should plan to meet at the Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m. for orientation. Contact Kathy Williams or Mark Wright for more information about volunteering or taking an eagle tour (760-389-2303 between 8:00 and 4:00; or email:khwilliams@parks.ca.gov).
• Lake Hemet volunteers should plan on meeting at the Lake Hemet Grocery Store at 8:30 a.m. for orientation. Contact Heidi Hoggan (hhoggan@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2945) for more information.
• Lake Perris State Recreation Area volunteers should plan to meet at the Lake Perris Regional Indian Museum at 8:00 for orientation. Contact the office for more information at 951-940-5600.

No experience is necessary and there is no need to sign up ahead of time.

— City News Service contributed to this report.