The bald eagle continues to supplant its recent - and remarkable - nesting successes with new records, according to the Game Commission. And from all indications, this raptor isn't done making headlines.

"The bald eagle's ascension from its perilous past is an inspiration to all who care about environmental reform and wild Pennsylvania," explained Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. "These birds are living proof that responsible natural resource management and conservation make Pennsylvania a better place to live and ensure wildlife will be around for future generations to enjoy.

"It's fitting that news about the continuing triumphs of bald eagles have graced our headlines over the Fourth of July for the past several years. As our nation's symbol, their presence is essential in America's outdoors. They immediately add a touch of class and true wilderness to any area they inhabit, whether it's on the outskirts of Philadelphia or a remote stretch of the Lake Erie shoreline."

This spring, bald eagles are known to be nesting in at least 47 of the state's 67 counties. Their tally of nests is expected to exceed 140 nests. In June 2007, biologists estimated Pennsylvania had 120 known nests in 42 counties. The final count of those nests turned out to be 132, and they produced more than 150 eaglets.

As recently as 1983, there were only three eagle nests remaining in Pennsylvania. That year, the Game Commission began a seven-year bald eagle reintroduction program in which the agency sent employees to Saskatchewan to obtain eaglets from wilderness nests.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation of Pittsburgh and the federal Endangered Species Fund provided financial assistance for this effort. In all, 88 Canadian bald eagles were released from sites located at Dauphin County's Haldeman Island and Pike County's Shohola Falls.

"What's so exciting about the bald eagle's return is that each year they're nesting in more counties, strengthening their population in Pennsylvania and giving more residents the chance to enjoy these magnificent birds," Roe said. "Their presence is stronger than ever and it doesn't appear that they're close to being done claiming new nesting territories in the Commonwealth. Who knows, maybe your county will be the next to host eagles."

Bald eagles have symbolized America's greatness for centuries and now they've become America's latest success story in wildlife management and environmental reform. But their comeback in Pennsylvania took time, because their population had been decimated.

Partnering with other states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and countless other state wildlife agencies, the Game Commission helped to bring bald eagles back from the brink of extinction. The effort dovetailed with important gains made in improving water quality and the banning of pesticides such as DDT, which led a cleaner environment and increases in the quality and quantity of freshwater fish, a staple in the eagle's diet.

Pennsylvania's eagle resurgence also was likely stimulated by young eagles dispersing from the Chesapeake Bay, which now has hundreds of nesting pairs, and neighboring states that reintroduced eagles, too.

The Game Commission currently classifies the bald eagle as a threatened species in Pennsylvania. They are no longer protected by the federal Endangered Species Act - delisted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007 - because delisting goals have been achieved.

However, bald eagles continue to receive federal protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which safeguard the birds from their nests disturbances and destruction.

Today, bald eagles are nesting in every state but Hawaii, which they never inhabited. The lower 48 states have a nesting population that is approaching 10,000 pairs, which is up considerably from the little more than 400 pairs America had in 1963.

"What's happening in Pennsylvania is also happening in many other states," noted Doug Gross, Game Commission ornithologist. "Bald eagles are thriving in Ohio and New York, and, of course, in Maryland, where more than 400 pairs have been documented. Some states with extensive big-water resources, such as Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, have more than a 1,000 pairs each.

"Pennsylvania is no slouch when it comes to big water and that's why we believe bald eagles will continue to build more nests near large impoundments and rivers where no eagles are present currently or there's room for another pair. New nests in Pennsylvania also are popping up in places that have surprised us, like in suburban settings close to buildings or near high-use recreational areas.

"It seems bald eagles have become more tolerant of people when selecting nest locations, but that doesn't mean they're comfortable with people approaching their nests. It remains critically important for people to stay a considerable distance away, preferably at least 1,000 feet. It's also against the law to disturb nesting eagles. Get a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope to watch the nest or observe them in flight. Just please stay back and give them some room. Avoid making loud noises or approaching the nest directly or from above."

Since 1983, Pennsylvania's eagle nests have produced more than 1,100 eaglets, and the population has increased by about 15 percent annually. The heaviest production, of course, has occurred in recent years. Eagle nesting success has been 70 percent or greater for some time.

Poor weather conditions have the greatest impact on nesting success, followed by nest intrusions and predators, but as more eagles nest instate and competition for prime nesting sites increases, eagle nesting success eventually may level off or drop.

"There's still plenty of new or sparsely-used territory for nesting pairs in the Commonwealth," noted Gross. "Some of the best remaining includes the Susquehanna's north and west branches, the Juniata River and the Lake Erie shoreline. There also are of a number of large lakes and impoundments scattered across the state with more than adequate fisheries and no eagles."

The state's largest concentrations of eagle nests remain along the lower Susquehanna River, the upper Delaware River basin and the wetland-dominated Pymatuning region in northwestern Pennsylvania. The area still best known for nesting bald eagles remains the state's southwestern counties.

"I am surprised more eagles haven't claimed the various impoundments and free-flowing rivers of our southwestern counties," Gross said. "Maybe we're missing nests. Maybe it's because these counties historically have not attracted eagles. But the resources nesting eagles need are there. This irregularity may be related to the lack of a strong source population for eagles to disperse from. Young eagles dispersing from the state's established nesting centers, or the Chesapeake Bay, would be hard pressed to end up in southwestern counties following flowing water or riding wind currents."

Clearfield, Cumberland, Delaware, Juniata and Perry counties have recorded their first bald eagle nests this year. New bald eagle nests also were found in Armstrong, Bucks, Bradford, Butler, Erie, Forest, Lycoming, Northumberland, Mercer, Pike, Tioga, Warren, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

The Game Commission is always interested in reports from the public about new nests and news about bald eagle nests.

"The increased use of rivers and lakes at this time of year by the boating public has yielded new nests to our inventory in recent years," Gross noted. "If you encounter a nest, give the birds some elbow room, take some notes on the location and the eagles' behavior, and drop us an email about the specifics. Remember, we cannot protect a nest unless we know about it."

Emails can be sent to biologists via: pgccomments@state.pa.us. Use the words "Eagle Nest Information" in the subject field.

The return of the bald eagle in both Pennsylvania and the contiguous United States is directly related to reintroductions and nest site protection. But, the bird's resurgence is linked directly to the banning of DDT and other organochlorine pesticides. Eagles, as well as ospreys, peregrine falcons and a multitude of songbirds, were rendered reproductively incapable by DDT and the like, because the birds were bio-accumulating toxins from the pesticides through consuming contaminated prey. DDT - banned nationally in 1972 - rendered the shells of birds' eggs so brittle, they broke when sat upon.

Rachel Carson wrote in Silent Spring, "The history of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings." She referred to the interdependencies - that often aren't easy to identify or interpret - of organisms on each other and the environment.

When America was sprayed and dusted repeatedly and for decades with DDT, the environment was slowly loaded with toxins that eventually devastated bald eagles and many other creatures that had thrived for centuries. Without emergency and sustained special assistance from wildlife conservation agencies, bald eagles would have perished.

Doug Gross, Pennsylvania Game Commission ornithologist, said the stories and reports he receives about eagle's nests never ceases to amaze him. Yet, his most memorable experience was when he and his wife participated in a large group canoe trip a few years ago.

"I had suspected there could be an undiscovered eagle nest on a particular stretch of a local river based on reports of eagles being seen in the area, as well as my own observations," Gross said. "As we traveled down the river from one town to another, I told the tour guides that I had two islands and some isolated riverbanks in mind for the search, and would appreciate any hints or tips they could offer without alerting the 80 other canoes along for the trip.

"One of the tour leaders spotted something big in a tree on a large island. We quietly followed, and as I turned our canoe toward the target, I saw a stick nest the size of a Volkswagen in a large sycamore tree. I whispered, 'That's an eagle nest, let's get out of here.' We slipped off with the memory of that location. A friend returned later and took a picture of a young eaglet out of the nest nearby and the mystery of a missing nest was found with none of the other 80 boats knowing what was found on the trip."

Gross also noted that many other Game Commission employees share his enthusiasm for bald eagles, including Brenda Peebles, who coordinates bald eagle nest monitoring in the agency's Northwest Region. However, both Gross and Peebles rely on volunteers and Game Commission field personnel for the leads they need to investigate new eagle nests.

"A Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer in western Pennsylvania was so excited about the eagles fledging their young from a nest in his district that he called me at home after hours," Gross said. "He had to tell somebody that the eagles were successful and, since the Region Office was closed that night, he decided to call me."

In late June, Tioga County WCO Robert F. Minnich reported the number of bald eagle nests in his district has grown since he arrived in the district in 1999.

"I started with one nest and now am monitoring three nests in the area," WCO Minnich said. "This year the third nest was found and is being monitored. Two nests have been successful and the third was abandoned when a March ice storm brought branches down on the nest and incubating eagle. The eagles have remained in the area, but not incubating. The other two nests both have had two young hatch."

In late June, Juniata County WCO Daniel Clark confirmed the location of one pair of nesting bald eagles within the county and is watching a possible second site.

"This has been made possible through assistance and involvement of local bird watchers within the county," WCO Clark said. "I've been seeing mature bald eagles flying the Juniata River between Mifflintown and the Lewistown narrows. No nesting sites for these birds have been located."

In June, Philadelphia/Delaware County WCO Jerry Czech has been monitoring two bald eagle nests with the help of a Deputy WCO and some volunteer birders.

"The Philadelphia Eagles start football training camp soon, and so too are the eaglets in these nests," WCO Czech said. "They are stretching their wings and jumping up on the edge of the nest, training for their first flights. Looks like the three eaglets will be ready to fledge and look for their own nesting sites soon."

Cameron County WCO Wayne Hunt, in May, sighted a pair of mature bald eagles in a Sycamore tree along the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek. "The presence of these national birds could very well mean another nesting pair in the county," he said.

In May, Westmoreland County WCO Seth Mesoras reported that bald eagles previously seen nesting near Beaver Run Reservoir appear to have abandoned their nest. "I have observed both nests several times and have not noticed any eagle activity," he said. "Residents of northern Westmoreland County continue to report sightings, which mean that eagles still are in the area somewhere."

In May, Chester County WCO Keith Mullin reports that the bald eagle nest in his district partially collapsed last year after several severe thunderstorms, and it was not known if the birds would return to the nest or build a new nest at another location. "I'm happy to report that not only have the adult eagles returned, but they have one eaglet," he said. "Also, I can report a hatch at another nest, but cannot confirm the number of chicks there, although I believe there are two."

In May, Potter/Tioga Counties LMGS Denise H. Mitcheltree observed two mature bald eagles as they perched in trees near the Long Toe Road in Potter County. "Even from a distance, the size of these birds was quite impressive as the sun glinted off of their white feathered heads," she said.

Elk County WCO Dick Bodenhorn reports that once again this year there are at least two active eagle nests, with young eaglets, along the Clarion River in Elk County. "It is suspected there are other active nests that haven't been found yet," he said. "Anyone finding an eagle's nest is encouraged to call and report the location."

In early May, Bucks County WCO John Papson reports that the eagles have again successfully hatched two eaglets.

Unfortunately, not every sighting report is a positive one. In some cases, Gross said that the Game Commission receives reports of injured or dead bald eagles.

In May, Mercer County WCO Donald G. Chaybin received a report from kayakers who found a mature bald eagle carcass floating in Lake Wilhelm. "It was caught up in some limbs and appeared to have been there awhile," he said. "They freed it from the snag, but were unable to recover the rank carcass and upon returning home contacted the Northwest Region Office. The following morning, I spent several hours canoeing that area of the lake on SGL 270, but was unsuccessful in locating the eagle. Unfortunately, we will never know the cause of death of this bird. There was an active eagle's nest within a half mile of the area where they reported discovering the dead eagle."

In June, Snyder County WCO Harold J. Malehorn said that a severely injured, immature bald eagle was found and it had to be euthanized. "A local resident found the injured eagle along the side of Spruce Hollow Road in Franklin Township," he said. "The leg was broken and had nearly fallen off. After consulting with Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, it was decided that the most humane course of action was to euthanize it. A necropsy was conducted, but the cause of the injury was inconclusive."

Nick Antolik, of Girard, Erie County, discovered a dead eagle along the banks of the creek, and contacted the Game Commission.

"I crossed the creek to see if I could determine what caused this bird's demise," Antolik said. "I decided to bring him back across the creek and secure him high up a beech tree, so he would not be further disturbed or removed by scavengers. As I did this, immature eagles watched the whole time.

"After speaking with the Game Commission, I was asked to bring the bird out, which I willingly did, and delivered it to Edinboro Outdoors, where it was picked up and sent down state for a necropsy."

In Mercer County, as Deputy WCO John McCurdy visited the Conneaut Lake Fire Hall, he looked out the large windows overlooking Conneaut Lake and saw a bald eagle dive toward the water and it grabbed a large fish. After catching the fish, the eagle turned and headed south toward power lines. The eagle's wing's spanned between two electrical lines and it was electrocuted and immediately spiraled into the marsh right next to Route 322. "As soon as I saw this, I went down and retrieved the eagle and brought it back to the PA Game Commission Northwest Region Office," he said.

In each of these cases, eagles carcasses that were recovered were shipped by the Game Commission to the National Eagle Repository at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' Rocky Mountain Arsenal northeast of Denver, Colorado.

"It is illegal for any individual to possess a bald or golden eagle, including its parts, such as feathers or talons," said Rich Palmer, director of the Game Commission's Bureau of Wildlife Protection. "But the Repository provides a central location for distributing bald and golden eagles that are found dead, and their parts, to qualified Native Americans for use in religious Native American ceremonies.

"The distribution of bald and golden eagles, and their parts to Native Americans is authorized by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act."

For more information, visit the Game Commission’s Bald Eagle webpage.

NewsClip: Bald Eagle Population Rising in PA

8/1/2008