Little more than two decades ago, the bald eagle had virtually disappeared from the Pennsylvania landscape. Pesticides, development and persecution had all but wiped out one of the nation’s most revered symbols of strength and freedom. Just two nesting pairs were known in the state. The outlook was bleak.

Today, the eagle remains on the endangered species list in Pennsylvania, but the future is bright. Assisted by man, protected by laws, and bolstered by its own ability to adapt and evolve, the eagle is making a comeback.

Discover how and learn more about these majestic birds May 12, when PPL Corporation’s Holtwood Environmental Preserve hosts “Return of the Bald Eagle.”

Presented by Doug Gross of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, this special program will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Holtwood Environmental Center, located at the intersection of Old Holtwood and New Village roads in Holtwood, Pa.

Gross, who manages the state’s bald eagle program, will share the story of the bald eagle’s resurgence in Pennsylvania and the Game Commission’s continuing efforts to support eagle restoration. A wildlife biologist and expert on endangered species, Gross will offer participants a glimpse into the world of a creature that has captured the imagination of young and old for centuries.

Nowhere has the eagle’s resurgence been more apparent, perhaps, than at the Holtwood preserve, home to four of the state’s more than 80 known nesting sites. The sites flank both sides of the Susquehanna River near PPL’s Holtwood hydroelectric plant. One site, established several years ago on the York County side below Holtwood Dam, sits atop an electric transmission tower and can be viewed from nearby.

Bald eagles mate for life, and the York County nesting pair at Holtwood has contributed more than 16 new eagles to the lower Susquehanna River Valley since choosing the site. The eagles’ behavior in recent weeks indicates that the pair is likely caring for young chicks again this spring, said Arbogast.

To see photos of the Holtwood eagles and monitor their activity, visit the Holtwood Preserve webpage. New photos and eagle updates are posted regularly.

For more information about the May 12 program, contact Arbogast at 717-284-6272.

In addition to the May 12 program, PPL has scheduled an eagle watch for Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. The public is invited. Participants should gather at the Lock 12 Historic Site on the York side of the Holtwood Dam west of the Norman Wood Bridge on Route372.

The Holtwood Environmental Preserve, in conjunction with PPL’s Holtwood hydroelectric plant, provides lakeside recreational opportunities and facilities for camping, hiking, picnicking, boating, sightseeing, fishing and hunting on more than 5,000 acres along the Susquehanna River.

4/29/2005