To the Editor of thecity1.com:
Bald eagles were at the edge of extinction many years ago. In 1963, there were only 417 known nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. Loss of food sources and habitat and illegal shooting were major factors. Government intervention in the early 1970s led to the Bald eagle population becoming more plentiful. The Bald eagle was removed from the list of endangered and threatened species in 2007. Now, the Bald eagle population has climbed to an estimated 316,700 individual Bald eagles, including 71,400 nesting pairs.
Today Bald eagles are legally protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Lacey Act. But Bald eagles are still threatened by illegal shooting, chemical poisoning, traps, electrocution, and collision with buildings and vehicles.
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has National Bald eagle management guidelines to help landowners protect Bald eagles. The guidelines are available at https://www.fws.gov/media/national-bald-eagle-management-guidelines.
The public can learn more about Bald eagles through the fact sheet at https://www.fws.gov/media/bald-eagle-fact-sheet.
Also, attend Bald eagle watch events listed at https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Mississippi-River-Project/Education/Eagle-Watching/.
The Clinton, IA, eagle watch will be held Saturday, February 17, 2024. Exhibits and educational programming will be held 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Clinton Community College (1000 Lincoln Boulevard, Clinton.)
Outdoor eagle viewing will be held 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Lock and Dam 13 (4999 Lock Road, Fulton, IL.)
For more information contact the Thomson Ranger office at 815-259-3628.
Sincerely,
Isaac Blevins