![]() It is not certain how stable the Bald Eagle population is in New York at this time. In addition, there are many immatures and non-breeding adults that reside in New York during the spring and summer months. In 2017, there were 426 active breeding pairs and a total of 209 young fledged in the state (NYS DEC 2017). The numbers likely vary based on the severity of winter weather. In 1980 two hacked birds nested in Jefferson County.īetween 20, 324-442 wintering birds were counted at the four main areas where the birds concentrate. Thirty-two of those birds did not survive 16 were illegally shot (Levine 1998). A total of 198 nestlings were released at four sites in the state. Hacking proved to be the most successful in 19. The Department of Environmental Conservation started a reintroduction program that involved egg transplants, fostering, and hacking (hand rearing and releasing older nestlings in the absence of adult birds). The population increase in recent years has been accomplished through protection and active management, as well as through enhanced reproduction after the DDT ban. The pair often failed at nesting attempts apparently because of thin egg shells (Nye 1982). The number of breeding and wintering Bald Eagles has been increasing since the 1970s when the population was one breeding pair. While breeding and wintering populations are increasing in New York they are still faced with many threats including development, human disturbances, contaminated food base, and collision with high speed trains, towers, wind generators, and electrical lines. During the non-breeding season, Bald Eagles are found throughout the state, but they tend to concentrate at wintering areas and roosts at about four open water sites in the state. In 2017, there were approximately 426 occupied bald eagle nest sites of which 48 failed (did not fledge young). Piebald is a fitting description for the bald eagle because of its dark body and white head and tail (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003). ![]()
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