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News
Bald
Eagles
Soar in Iowa - A Tremendous Comeback
Posted 20 January
2010
The bald eagle has made a tremendous comeback in Iowa. The Iowa DNR has
on record at least 254 bald eagle nests that have been active within
the last couple years. This is compared to exactly one nest in 1977,
which was the first after more than 70 years. All these nests do pose a
bit of a problem for the DNR. Keeping track of 254 known nests, and
likely more, is a lot harder than the 50 nests from not that long ago.
"In the 1990s we had a pretty good idea of where all the eagle nests
were and what was going on with them. Now with the number of nests
tripled, the nests we are aware of are likely just the tip of the
iceberg and we have little data on how successful and productive those
nests are," said Stephanie Shepherd, wildlife diversity biologist with
the Iowa DNR. Shepherd is coordinating an effort to get a better handle
on Iowa's eagle nesting population.
But why, if things are going so well for eagles, is there a need for
better monitoring of their nests? The eagle is an important species to
our country, and it is still vulnerable, Sheppard said. Its recovery is
a resounding success story. It has been taken off the Federal
Endangered Species List and has been upgraded from Endangered to
Special Concern here in Iowa. But as protections are relaxed, it is
important to keep a sharp eye on a species, particularly one that still
faces some challenges.
The first challenge, loss of habitat, has been around for many years
and continues to be a problem. Eagles have very specific criteria when
choosing a nesting site; typically near water (food source) and in a
tree large enough to hold their potentially 1 to 2 ton nest which they
return and add to each year. They also prefer to nest somewhere there
is not a lot of human activity, though eagles have been showing some
signs of adapting to greater activity around their nesting sites.
In addition, bald eagles have a number of reproductive traits that make
them vulnerable - they nest only once per year and if that nesting
attempt is disturbed, the eagle pair almost always loses its only
chance for that year. An eagle nest in Iowa produces an average of 1.5
chicks each year, and these young birds take 4 to 5 years to reach
breeding age.
Finally, young and adult eagles alike face many dangers from lead
poisoning to collisions with power lines and cars.
"We hope in the next two years to start getting a better handle on
Iowa's eagle nesting success in Iowa and we hope to get some help with
that from Iowans," Shepherd said.
The DNR is looking for a few dedicated citizens that might enjoy
"adopting" one of 54 pre-chosen eagle nests and becoming an official
monitor. "People who are interested can attend one of the three
training workshops we have scheduled in Jasper, Woodbury and Page
counties, or if they are experienced wildlife observers and have a pair
of Binoculars (or preferably a scope) they should just contact me," she
said.
More information about this opportunity can be found on the wildlife
diversity page under "Reporting Bald Eagles":
or
contact Stephanie Shepherd at 515-432-2823 or stephanie.shepherd@dnr.iowa.gov.
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