Wyoming volunteers count record-high 576 eagles in Powder River Basin midwinter survey

Bald eagle seen during the 2022 midwinter survey in the Powder River Basin. (Photo by volunteer Jennifer Hackney, courtesy BLM Wyoming)

CASPER, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming said in a press release Thursday that 95 volunteers assisted in an eagle count on the morning of January 8, 2022 along 1,500 miles of public roadways in the Power River Basin.

A total of 576 eagles were counted, including 376 bald eagles and 153 golden eagles, with the remaining 47 eagles of undetermined species. BLM’s Buffalo Field Office coordinated the survey, which was conducted as part of the nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey.

In addition to the eagles, volunteers observed a variety of other raptor species in the area. BLM Wyoming said the most common types were rough-legged hawks and red-tailed hawks.

The eagle counts in the Powder River Basin have been conducted each year since 2006, with an average of 400–500 eagles counted per year….