Bald Eagles Make a Comeback in PA
04 July 2009
by Anai Rhoads
AnaiRhoads.org -- It has been two decades since the final set of eaglets were transferred from Canada to Pennsylvania in an effort to recover the bald eagle population in the state. Biologists are now reporting positive progress in their recovery.
Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists declared that there were 156 nests in 47 counties just a year ago. Currently, there are approximately 170 nests, including 36 new nests statewide. In addition, Clinton and Mifflin counties were added to the list of counties that have new nests earlier this year. This is promising news, considering that in 1983 only three nests were left in the state.
In 1983, the Game Commission began a reintroduction programme funded by The Richard King Mellon Foundation of Pittsburgh and the federal Endangered Species Fund, that lasted until 1990. The agency sent employees to Saskatchewan to obtain 88 Canadian bald eagles from wild nests and that were subsequently released from sites located at Dauphin County's Haldeman Island and Pike County's Shohola Falls.
"The story of the bald eagle's recovery is 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," explained Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. "As our nation's symbol, the bald eagle's presence is essential in America's outdoors. They immediately add a touch of true wilderness to any area they inhabit, whether it's on the shoreline of Philadelphia or a remote stretch of one of the Commonwealth's river systems.
"With the banning of DDT in 1972, as well as the ensuing environmental clean up efforts launched in the 1970s, the stage was set for bald eagles to recover on their own. However, there is no doubt that the Game Commission's reintroduction efforts from 1983 through 1989 helped the bald eagle population grow exponentially, from just three known nests in Crawford County in 1983, to nearly 180 nests in 49 of the state's 67 counties this year."
Pennsylvania's eagle nests have produced more than 1,200 eaglets, bringing in an increase of roughly 15 percent each year since 1983. Some overcrowding has been observed, but only within certain areas.
"We are hearing of more eagle-to-eagle conflicts at or near nests with a 'rogue eagle' interfering with an established pair," Doug Gross, Game Commission biologist said. "Some of these rogues are beaten back by the established nesting pairs, but others do interfere with nesting and cause some nest failures. This is typical of a population that is reaching saturation in parts of its range, such as the northwestern counties and in the Upper Delaware River watershed."
"There's still plenty of new or sparsely-used territory for nesting pairs in the Commonwealth. Some of the best remaining eagle nesting habitat includes the Susquehanna's north and west branches, the Monongahela River, the Youghiogheny River and the Lake Erie shoreline. There also are many large lakes and impoundments scattered across the state with more than adequate fisheries and no eagles."
Typically, a bald eagle female will produce one to three eggs at most. However, biologists were in awe of spotting nests in Northampton County that proudly revealed four eaglets.
"News of this nest has attracted the attention of many eagle advocates and researchers who have never heard of this many eaglets in a nest," Gross said.
In order to keep the bald eagles safe during viewing, the Game Commission has built a nest viewing station on State Game Land (SGL) 180 in Pike County. It is said to help visitors get a clearer view of the nesting activities without disturbing the nests themselves. The entrance to the viewing platform is on Spring Brook Road, off of Route 6, Shohola Falls. There is a large wooden sign visible on site announcing the "PA Game Commission Eagle Viewing Station."
"The public may park and view the eagles from start to finish as they mate and rear their young, and eagles sail by the viewing platform regularly," John C. Shutkufski, who serves as the Land Management Group Supervisor for the agency in Wayne, Pike said. "The viewing deck is a substantial distance from the nest, so a good pair of binoculars, a spotting scope and/or telescopic camera will be a necessity. Also, the deck is wheelchair accessible, and is portable so it can be moved to a better location in the future if needed."
Former President Bush removed the bald eagle from the endangered list, for most states, in 2007. Bush declared that the bald eagle was no longer being threatened, stating that population goals had been accomplished. Despite Bush delisting the bald eagle in these states, the birds in Pennsylvania continue to receive federal protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both acts safeguard the birds and their nests from "disturbances and destruction."
The only state that in US that the eagle has yet to inhabit is Hawaii. According to the Game Commission, the lower 49 states have a nesting population that is approaching 10,000 pairs, up from the little more than 400 America had in 1963.
If you plan to view bald eagles, please use caution. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials state that any human disturbance can result in adult eagles abandoning their nests and their young. Those who are found disturbing a bald eagle nest will face charges by federal and state wildlife officials.
"Even though some eagles have built nests near urban and suburban settings, it remains critically important for people to stay a considerable distance away, preferably at least 1,000 feet," said Brenda Peebles, Game Commission biologist aide, who recently was called to testify as an expert witness in a case involving the disturbance of a bald eagle nest in Springboro, Crawford County.
"A landowner gave permission to another individual to cut down trees near a newly constructed bald eagle nest," Peebles said. "This person then agreed to allow a second individual to cut the tops up for firewood. As this second person was cutting the tree tops, a volunteer helper, who watches this nest out her kitchen window, saw that the eagles were in a panic. She called me, I then called Crawford County Wildlife Conservation Officer Mario Piccirilli, who investigated the situation and filed a citation. Fortunately, the birds are fine and the young are about ready to fledge."
On May 22, a hearing was held before District Judge Rita Marwood. The Springboro resident, Leroy W. Chupp, was ordered to pay fines and court costs of $558.50.
"While it may seem bald eagles have become more tolerant of people when selecting nest locations, it doesn't mean they're comfortable with people approaching their nests," Peebles said. "It's also against the law to disturb nesting eagles," Peebles said. "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."
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