“The Ohio Bald Eagle Recovery: A Success Story”
From the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The bald eagle became a national symbol when it was placed on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, and Congress adopted the design. With a white head and tail contrasting with dark-colored plumage, adult bald eagles are recognizable to many Americans. When the region presently known as Ohio was granted statehood in 1803, bald eagles likely frequented the state’s abundant rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
The bald eagle’s status as the United States’ symbol offered prestige but not protection in the nation’s infancy. On the contrary, early settlers viewed eagles as a threat and hunted them. Habitat loss compounded the effect of overhunting as trees were cut down and wetlands drained. In addition, pesticides like DDT, introduced in the 1940s for insect control, led to reproductive failure in raptors.
As a result, bald eagles suffered national population declines in the mid-1900s. As people realized how dire the situation was, changes were made. The Clean Water Act and a ban on the harmful chemical DDT improved environmental conditions for eagles beginning in 1972, but the species remained in peril. By 1979, Ohio had just four nesting pairs.
When Ohio created its endangered species list in 1974, bald eagles were among the first species added for protection. In 1978, they were added to the federal endangered species list. Habitat conservation and restoration, the banning of DDT and other harmful chemicals, and endangered species acts aligned to give eagles a chance, but the species needed outside help to fully recover. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources created a bald eagle restoration program in 1979 to foster chicks, monitor nests, and restore habitats.
In the 1980s, each of the state’s bald eagle nests in existence at the time were monitored daily by staff to determine if the nest was successful and to record when young eaglets were hatched. The juvenile eagles were closely monitored until they were ready to fledge at about 9 1/2 weeks old.
When the young eagles had developed wing feather large enough to fly, staff climbed up to the nest and caught each fledgling. The eagle’s feet were wrapped in gauze to protect the bird and researchers from sharp talons. Each young bird was lowered to the ground, where researchers took measurements and gathered information about the bird’s health. Finally, each young eagle was outfitted with leg bands, a solar-powered telemetry unit, and wing markers with a number designating the individual. The birds were then placed back in the nest. This provided valuable data for researchers who tracked the state’s growing population. Staff learned Ohio had the habitat needed to support eagles at each stage of development, and the state’s eagle population climbed accordingly.
Bald eagle research and monitoring continued through the next few decades as populations slowly recovered in Ohio and nationwide. In 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed bald eagles from the federal endangered species list, a sign that eagle populations were stable enough to be self-sustaining. Ohio followed suit in 2012, removing the bald eagle from the state endangered species list.
Today, bald eagles live primarily near water, including wetlands, rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. With a six-foot wingspan, eagles are powerful fliers. They eat fish and readily scavenge carrion, among other things.
The bald eagle’s remarkable recovery in Ohio has surpassed expectations. Each spring, we conduct aerial bald eagle nest surveys to monitor population changes due to continued threats such as lead poisoning and disease outbreaks. Staff biologists count the number of nesting pairs in designated survey blocks and use those results to estimate statewide populations. Later in the spring, staff use aerial surveys to track nest success. Recently, surveys have shown that eagle populations are soaring in Ohio.
In addition to yearly surveys, we periodically conduct a complete nest census, counting every known bald eagle nest in the state. The most recent census was conducted in 2020. Public reports and partnering organizations helped the agency confirm 707 nests in 85 of Ohio’s 88 counties. A census in 2012 showed 281 nests statewide. Between 2012 and 2020, bald eagle populations took a huge leap in less than a decade. More recently, the estimate is that the state has more than 800 nesting pairs of bald eagles.
Witnessing and supporting the bald eagle’s recovery has been one of our proudest accomplishments. It is always a treat to see bald eagles soaring above Ohio’s waterways, and it is a sight that viewers are lucky to see more often now. Bald eagles can be found across the state, but the counties adjoining Lake Erie, those with large river systems, and those with healthy wetland ecosystems have the densest eagle populations.
So, as we plan to celebrate our pride in the founding of our country, we should also celebrate the founding father’s selection of the bald eagle to grace our nation’s Great Seal.