Great news for bald eagles: U.S. population quadrupled within a decade
Great news for bald eagles: In the United States, the population of this species has quadrupled within a decade. If, in fact, until 2009 there were 72.000 specimens, today there are more than 300.000. This was revealed in a report recently published by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The important milestone concerning this extraordinary bird of prey inserted in the coat of arms of the United States of America was commented by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Deb Haaland, which called the growth of the bald eagle population "a historic success story for conservation."
"The bald eagle has always been considered a sacred species for American Indians," said the minister, the first Native American to head a US department. "Likewise it is sacred to our nation as a national symbol of America."
The incredible growth of the bald eagle population
THEBald eagle, better known as the bald eagle, was one step away from extinction until the last century.
In fact, until a few decades ago these birds of prey were considered a real threat in countries such as theAlaska. Here the government had introduced rewards of around a dollar for each specimen killed. This legalized fury against eagles has led to over 120.000 confirmed kills in Alaska since 1917. Another major threat to birds of prey was the DDT insecticide widely used in the 20th century. Around 1963 the population of the bald eagle was 417 breeding pairs, the lowest number ever according to the researchers.
Fortunately, however, thanks to the efforts related to the protection and conservation of the species and the prohibition of the use of DDT, introduced in 1972, the population of bald eagles has begun to gradually grow again, at an unthinkable pace. In 2007 the species was removed from the endangered species list.
Bald Eagles: Breeders view them as a threat
While many animal welfare organizations are enthusiastic about the growth in numbers in various US countries, several breeders continue to view bald eagles as a threat to livestock and have turned to the Fish and Wildlife Service for permission to hunt birds of prey.
However, the request was not accepted by the federal agency that deals with the management and conservation of wildlife, fishing and natural habitats. Martha Williams, deputy director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the agency will continue to do its utmost to ensure the growth of the bald eagle population.
Bald eagles once teetered on the brink of extinction – today, they’re soaring strong! Over 300,000 bald eagles soar…
Posted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday, March 24, 2021
In recent times, in some American states it is not uncommon to see these birds of prey nesting in residential areas.
"It wasn't like that in the 70s and 80s," explains Bryan Watts, professor of biology and director of the Center for Conservation Biology. "In fact, we never could have predicted that they would."
Watts rules out the possibility of hunting bald eagles being reintroduced, as has happened in the past. “I think they should be worshiped, respected and protected,” he comments.
We hope so too. Long live the bald eagles, symbol of the United States!
Fonte: Fish and Wildlife Service/New York Times
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