Skip to main content

Wildlife Surveys

Maine has some of the best wildlife in the lower 48. For detailed wildlife surveys, once you use a helicopter, it's tough to go back to fixed wing aircraft. Biologists find detailed observations of bald eagles, moose, marine mammals, beaver dams/ponds and migratory fish runs are all excellent from our helicopter. Point of View Helicopters has a long history of cooperation with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, various environmental consulting firms, nonprofits and wildlife cinematographers.

In conjunction with Friends of Merrymeeting Bay and the wildlife agencies we continue the longest running aerial bald eagle nest and chick surveys in Maine. Our survey data recording presence/absence, nesting success and aging of chicks determines population health as well as timing of follow-up hands on banding and contaminant screening.

Merrymeeting Bay has had, next to Cobscook Bay on the Canadian border, the most successful bald eagle recovery in Maine. As such, it is a wonderful study area for these birds and the skies here are our home territory. Casco Bay, the Kennebec/Androscoggin Rivers region and Muscongus Bay are all nearby for easy wildlife monitoring. Fruits of our eagle and great blue heron work can be read about in the Summer 2012, Summer 2023 and Summer 2024 issues of Merrymeeting News, the newsletter of Friends of Merrymeeting Bay.

Testimonials

"Point of View Helicopter Services combines quality, intimate aerial survey services and a passion for natural resource conservation. I have flown with Ed Friedman during inventories of nesting bald eagles and reproduction studies, monitoring of osprey nests, searches for great blue heron breeding colonies, radiotelemetry projects, research with tidal currents, monitoring conservation easements, and aerial photography. His enthusiasm for all subjects is contagious. The Schweizer 300C helicopter provides ideal maneuverability and airspeed that improve aerial reconnaissance. Maine's landscape is breathtaking from such a perspective!"

Charlie Todd, Wildlife Biologist, Maine Department of Fish & Wildlife, Bangor, ME

"I contracted with Point of View Helicopter Services to conduct an aerial survey of Bald Eagle nests throughout Casco Bay, Merrymeeting Bay and surrounding regions in mid-coastal Maine.  Ed and his observer did a fantastic job surveying specific areas of interest while avoiding sensitive areas. They surveyed dozens of Bald Eagle nests throughout the study area in just a handful of hours and sent me the survey datasheet that evening. We get a lot of value for our money working with Point of View Helicopter Services given Ed’s familiarity with the species and his knowledge of the local area. Both of these were and are huge assets to working with Ed on any helicopter wildlife survey efforts."

Chris DeSorbo, Director of Raptor Program, Senior Research Biologist, Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, ME

"This is incredible Ed! [Responding to our Point of View Helicopter Services flush count of 340 bald eagles on the Sebasticook River, Maine where they aggregate for the river herring run]. Thank you so much for continuing this work and providing the updated data and email summaries."

Erynn Call, Ph.D., State Raptor Biologist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife