Bald eagles are experiencing a remarkable resurgence in the United States, marking a dramatic turnaround from their near-extinction in the late 20th century.
New Jersey recently became the latest state to remove the species from its endangered list, celebrating an increase from just one nesting pair in the 1980s to approximately 300 pairs today.
The recovery stems largely from the 1972 ban on DDT, a pesticide that caused eagle eggs to develop thin shells, devastating their population. Conservationists employed innovative techniques to rebuild the population, including importing birds from Canada and temporarily replacing wild eggs with artificial ones while safely incubating the real eggs elsewhere.
According to Kathy Clark, head of New Jersey’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program, the eagles have demonstrated remarkable adaptability, establishing territories across densely populated areas from suburban Bergen County to southern coastal wetlands. However, this adaptation to suburban environments presents new challenges, with many birds requiring rescue after vehicle collisions.
The species’ cultural significance received official recognition in December when President Biden signed legislation formally declaring the bald eagle as America’s national bird — a status many assumed it already held. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, received unanimous support from both chambers of Congress.
Conservation experts consider bald eagles an “umbrella species,” meaning their protection helps preserve habitat for numerous other wildlife species. Despite their recovery, threats persist, including habitat loss, water quality concerns and the current avian influenza outbreak.
Read more: American bald eagles are having a moment, culturally and ecologically
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