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Issues Of The Environment: Bald Eagle Comeback

Glances at Nature
/
Audobon Guide
Bald Eagle by Josh Haas

The number of Bald Eagles in Michigan is on the rebound, from 85 pairs in 1970 to 750 pairs today, and they can be seen in all areas of Washtenaw County. Bald Eagles were greatly endangered and facing extinction due to habitat loss, DDT (a now-banned insecticide), and hunting, but they have come back due to conservation measures.

Listen as we talk to Rachelle Roake, Conservation Science Coordinator of Michigan Audubon to discuss the comeback of bald eagles in our county, and recent University of Michigan findings that they are contaminated with flame retardants despite the phase-out of these compounds.

Overview

Although the eagle is doing well, a Michigan study recently found that eagles are dying from a buildup of flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)) that were banned in the early 2000s.

Rachelle Roake, Conservation Science Coordinator for Michigan Audubon, says the study is alarming and that as long as new toxic compounds keep replacing the phased out ones Bald Eagles will be at risk of contamination because they are at the top of the food chain.

Bald Eagle Comeback

The Bald Eagle's recovery is an American success story. It no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act because its population is protected, healthy, and growing.  Here are some facts about the bald eagle and its journey to recovery.

Why the Bald Eagle almost went extinct in this country

  • Habitat was lost when virgin forests were cleared
  • Animals that eagles eat (like shorebirds and ducks) also declined because of overhunting
  • Eagles were shot because they were thought to threaten livestock
  • DDT, an insecticide with widespread use, built up in adult eagles and caused them to lay thin-shelled eggs that cracked before the chicks could hatch.

What we did to bring the Bald Eagle back

  • We banned DDT
  • We prohibited killing of eagles
  • We improved water quality in many of our lakes and rivers
  • We protected nest sites
  • We restored eagles back to areas where they had been eliminated

Some bald eagle biology facts

The Bald Eagle is truly an all-American bird; it is the only eagle unique to North America. Their nests are sometimes used year after year and can weigh as much as 4,000 pounds. The birds get their distinctive white head and tail only after they reach maturity at 4 to 5 years of age.

  • Bald Eagles may live 30 years in the wild (even longer in captivity)
  • Bald Eagles pair for life, but if one dies, the survivor will accept a new mate.
  • In hot climates, like Louisiana and Florida, Bald Eagles nest during winter