Prey remains in Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, pellets from a winter roost in the upper St. Lawrence River, 1996 and 1997

Abstract

Regurgitated pellets of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) wintering along the upper St. Lawrence River were collected from a roost site during 1996 and 1997. Analysis of the indigestible prey remains in the pellets provided some indication of diet White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were the most frequently encountered food species, occurring in 72 and 67% of the pellets in the two years, respectively. Other food items identified included waterfowl (40% in 1996 and 56% in 1997), fish (12% in 1996 and 28% in 1997) and furbearing mammals (9% in 1996 and 10% in 1997). Thirty and 41% of the pellets contained remains of fish or fish-eating birds in the two years, respectively.