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The American Bald
Eagle in Darke County
Our national symbol, the bald eagle displays many outstanding
characteristics - exceptional vision, a striking appearance, and a
commanding presence. Sadly, by the latter half of the 20th century, the
bald eagle was classified as an endangered species. Through the
diligent efforts of wildlife biologists and a concerned public, the
bald eagle population is coming back and is no longer on the federal
endangered species list. Its federal and state status is now delisted
but it is still in a federal monitoring stage for five years.
The adult bald eagle is one of the most easily recognized species of
wildlife. It has snow white feathers covering its head down to the neck
area. The tail feathers of the mature bald eagle are also white. The
body color is very dark brown, almost black. Yellow eyes, beak, and
feet accent the bird’s appearance. The white of the head and tail
distinguish the fully mature eagle from immature birds of the species.
Young eagles do not have this appearance until they reach the age of
five or six years. Until that time, they are decidedly duller in
appearance and, to the inexperienced observer, probably would not be
recognized as a bald eagle. Immature eagles are almost uniformly dark
brown from head to tail feather. Their undersides are mottled white
with buff and cream blotches.
Pair bonding activity for both new and established pairs begins in the
fall. Courtship behavior and nest building can occur anytime between
October and early December. The female lays one to three eggs in
mid-February to late March. Both she and her mate spend time on the
nest incubating and share the feeding responsibilities. The 1-3 eggs
usually incubate for 35 days, from February through April. The young
are helpless and dependent on parents and usually leave the nest after
10-13 weeks. A female will produce 1 brood each year, but if a nest is
destroyed, some pairs will "recycle" and initiate a second nest within
the same year.
The bald eagle can be found in small concentrations throughout the
U.S., particularly near sizable bodies of water, natural and man-made.
In Ohio, the bald eagle’s stronghold is the marsh region of western
Lake Erie. For the bald eagle, the ideal site is one where water with
ample food (fish) is located within two miles of the nest. The eagle
shows a preference for a somewhat secluded home site. This is
particularly critical when the nest is being established and young
raised. Eagles are highly territorial and too much interference from
other eagles can result in problems at the nest site.
Adults are, in general, year-round residents. Immature birds, however,
sometimes migrate during spring and fall.
Undoubtedly some in Darke County have witnessed the presence of the
Bald Eagle. They have been around for a number of years, and just
recently more sightings have occurred. We are not sure where they all
are nesting, but it appears, with the number of sightings that there
are more nests than in the past.
Hopefully with the bountiful bodies of water we have around Darke
County and the mature woodlots, we can see more of these majestic
symbols of our American heritage soar the great skies of Darke
County.
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