The results from a recent study from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources paint a positive picture for the future of bald eagles in the state.
A Citizen Scientist Census was conducted in February and March of 2020 across Ohio which received approximately 2,500 responses. The final tally totaled 707 bald eagle nests confirmed across the state. These results signify a 151 percent increase from a 2012 census which only identified 281 nests throughout the state. This marks an exponential growth for the nation’s bird.
“We are grateful to every Ohioan who contributed to this effort and thank those who support conservation of high-quality habitat that kept eagles nesting in Ohio,” ODNR Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker stated in the report.
These numbers have maintained steady gains in the years between.
Part of the eagle’s resurgence is owed to sustaining and protecting Ohio waterways, which are critical to their survival and ability to source food.
“In the last two years the population has grown 20 to 30 percent,” Lake Metroparks Wildlife Care Manager Tammy O’Neil said. “The five years previous to that it was increasing about five percent. They were estimating around a little over 200 nests and then for last year they were estimating around 350 nests.”
“It’s never just one thing,” O’Neil said. “It’s a series of several factors that contribute to them being able to grow their population and sustain it.
“I think the biggest thing is that when the bald eagle population was really low there was a big project to get the population back up. This led to a lot of habitat protection, waterways have been cleaned up, now those waterways and habitats are protected. The eagles are protected by three different federal laws, which have definitely helped. Making the public aware through education is a huge factor.”
O’Neil explained that while protected under federal laws, bald eagles are also protected under Ohio state laws.
“Anytime there is a nest or an eagle you have to stay at least 100 yards away,” she added. “Keeping those areas where we do know there is a nest quiet and protected really helps young eagles to survive. As those eagles have babies they’ll need more space to explore and find food sources. The state’s done a really good job in protecting habitats and now we have plenty of food sources for them.”
The ODNR report states that counties along Lake Erie charted the highest nest totals due to the eagle’s diet consisting primarily of fish. The counties with the most nests in Ohio were Ottawa with 90, Sandusky with 50, and Trumbull with 26 nests spotted during the census. Lake and Geauga counties both recorded seven nests during the time of the census.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also voiced enthusiasm for the census’s findings.
“The bald eagle is a symbol of American strength and resilience,” he stated in the report. “The eagle’s comeback in Ohio and across the country proves that we can overcome any challenge when we work together.”