It has been a while since I have written about the Bald Eagle population in Eastern North Carolina. I have just been enjoying seeing them as I travel around the area. There is no question that their numbers are increasing significantly in recent years. Seven years ago, there were only a few places one could go in the area to have a reasonable chance of seeing one, much less getting a reasonable photo chance. In the past two weeks, I have seen them in nine different locations. Seven years ago, I knew the location of two nesting sites. This spring, I know and have visited nine different active nests within a few miles of my home. And I am aware of four more nests near by. Six of these nests are shown in photos below. Each of these six nests have produced two chicks each in each of the five years. This is a population increase of 60 birds in that time if all have lived. IT takes five years for sexual maturity, so the first twelve of these should be nesting for the first time this year. One can easily see how numbers can increase rapidly in coming years. Further evidence of increases is in the large number of adolescent birds seen lately.
It should be a continuing lesson for us all as to what can be accomplished with our endangered species when there is a serious and concerted effort at the national, state, and local levels. Hopefully, we are all doing all we can to continue to support this process. Today, continued habitat loss, diminished food supply and car accidents continue to be the Eagles’ prime enemies. Eastern NC offers a great resource for this continuing recovery. The pictures below represent within the week photos of the five nests, and some nice recent pictures of the local population including pics of some serious scuffles over food! Please be aware that these pics of Eagle nests are very difficult to get. The photos are usually taken at great distance (sometime as much as 300 yards) This results sometimes in fuzzy or not sharp pictures. Many nests are in large trees that are in the middle of the swamp and surrounded by water. This is great for the eagles, but not good for sharp pictures. See photos below.
It should be a continuing lesson for us all as to what can be accomplished with our endangered species when there is a serious and concerted effort at the national, state, and local levels. Hopefully, we are all doing all we can to continue to support this process. Today, continued habitat loss, diminished food supply and car accidents continue to be the Eagles’ prime enemies. Eastern NC offers a great resource for this continuing recovery. The pictures below represent within the week photos of the five nests, and some nice recent pictures of the local population including pics of some serious scuffles over food! Please be aware that these pics of Eagle nests are very difficult to get. The photos are usually taken at great distance (sometime as much as 300 yards) This results sometimes in fuzzy or not sharp pictures. Many nests are in large trees that are in the middle of the swamp and surrounded by water. This is great for the eagles, but not good for sharp pictures. See photos below.
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