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Nature at risk

The American bald eagle flies high once more

BY CAROL HILLESTAD FOR THE BRODHEAD WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
Posted 11/16/22

In 1983, the bald eagle had all but disappeared from Pennsylvania’s woodland creeks and lakes.

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MY VIEW

Nature at risk

The American bald eagle flies high once more

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In 1983, the bald eagle had all but disappeared from Pennsylvania’s woodland creeks and lakes.

Just three nests remained across the state, as the pesticide DDT made the birds’ eggs so thin that they often broke in the nests. The population declined toward extinction all across the country.

Even before DDT, eagles were in trouble. Their habitat was disappearing. They were being shot to protect livestock, even though they eat mostly fish and scavenge carrion.  

It was going to take action to save our national emblem, a symbol of strength and freedom.

On December 2, 1970, President Nixon signed a bipartisan bill establishing the Environmental Protection Agency. Two years later, the EPA went out on a limb, banning the use of DDT in the U.S.  That decision was highly controversial. There was a lot of pushback, but it was the first essential step.

After the Endangered Species Act was passed, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was listed as endangered throughout most of its range. That gave the Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners the tools to help support the birds’ recovery—captive breeding programs, nest site protection and reintroduction work.

By 2007, there were nearly 10,000 nesting pairs. Today, the population is estimated at over 300,000 birds.

Even for novice birders, eagles are easy to spot; their size is the first clue. Though turkey vultures are about as big, with a wingspan of six feet, eagles’ bright white heads and tails and their soaring flight set them apart.

Eagles can live up to 30 years in the wild, and though they are solitary for most of the year, they mate for life. 

From just three nests in the whole state in 1983, to the present day, most residents of the Brodhead Watershed live within a mile or two of an active eagle nest. 

Success stories as notable as our local eagle population are few and far between. Thousands of creatures around the world are at risk—from the smallest insects, salamanders, frogs and birds to gentle manatees and 100-ton whales. 

As we celebrate the successful return of the only native American eagle, it’s worth finding out more about critters still teetering on the edge. Visit earth.org/endangered-species-in-the-us/. 

Meanwhile, keep your eyes peeled in the region—you could spot an eagle today!

“Nature at Risk” is a series published by Brodhead Watershed Association. To learn more, visit brodheadwatershed.org.

american bald eagle, environmental protection agency, endangered species

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