BALD EAGLES NESTING IN 49 COUNTIES OF PENNSYLVANIA
Just 20 years after the last eaglets were brought into Pennsylvania from Canada, bald eagles have recorded remarkable nesting successes here, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission officials. And, with the Fourth of July just around the corner, the opportunity for Pennsylvanians to see a bald eagle in the wild continues to increase, thanks to the recent completion of a bald eagle nest viewing platform on State Game Land 180 in Pike County.
"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."
At the present time, there are at least 170 known nests, including 36 new nests statewide. Also, for the first time in the agency's annual survey, Clinton and Mifflin counties were added to the list of counties hosting bald eagle nests. In June of 2008, Game Commission biologists estimated Pennsylvania had 140 known nests in 47 counties. The final nest count turned out to be 156.
PROPER BALD EAGLE NEST VIEWING ETIQUETTE ENCOURAGED
While viewing nesting bald eagles is a thrilling experience, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials encourage caution because human disturbances can cause adult eagles to abandon their nests and young. Also, anyone charged with disturbing a bald eagle nest can be charged by federal and state wildlife officials.
For more information on these two articles, as well as a series of photos of bald eagles, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176809