The Eagle Has Landed In Vermont

Once driven to the brink of extinction in the 1970’s due to the pesticide DDT, the Bald Eagle has made a remarkable comeback. In August 2007, the Department of Interior took the Bald Eagle off of the Endangered and Threatened Species list. Today there are an estimated 9,800 breeding pairs of eagles nationwide.

The Bald Eagle in Vermont

Despite their comeback, it wasn’t that long ago that the sight of a Bald Eagle in Vermont was a rare occasion. In fact, just ten short years ago, Vermont was the ONLY state in the nation without a nesting pair of eagles. For years, eagles have nested in several spots along the Connecticut River’s NH shoreline. With hunting areas of up to 10,000 acres, eagles seen on the VT side of the river were simply “visiting.” But oh how the times have changed! In a recent 2012 press release from the VT Fish and Wildlife Agency, they reported 15 documented nests in Vermont, with 23 new eaglets successfully fledged. The successful introduction of the Bald Eagle to Vermont is all part of a comprehensive program called the Vermont Bald Eagle Recovery Plan.

Bald Eagle Facts

• They are not really bald. It refers to the white feathered head they attain once reaching maturity.
• Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling. They reach sexual maturity at 5 years of age at which time their head and tail become completely white.
• They will mate with the same partner for life.
• They weigh between 8 and 14 pounds with females being the larger gender.
• They typically have two chicks who will leave the nest in approximately 12 weeks.
• They favor fish, but will eat ducks, birds, mammals and carrion (road kill), and will steal food killed by other animals.
• The Bald Eagle is our national bird, and appears on the official seal.

Where to See Them

Bald Eagles can be seen anywhere, but are more likely to be found near large bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. During the winter, eagles will congregate near open water. Well known sites to view them in Vermont include: below the Wilder Dam in Hartford Vermont, along the edge of ice flows on Lake Champlain, specifically near Chimney Point Bridge, and Fort Cassin Point near Ferrisburgh VT, where as many as 14 bald eagles have been seen at the same time. Outside of Vermont, Deer Island at the mouth of the Merrimack River in Amesbury MA produces outstanding views every winter. Nesting locations are not identified. Remember, it is a federal crime to harass a Bald Eagle. Harassment can be as simple as disturbing a nesting pair by being too close.

The Future in Vermont

While the progress made in the recovery of the Bald Eagle in Vermont is impressive, there is still work to be done. Despite it being removed from the federal endangered and threatened list, it remains an endangered species in Vermont. I encourage you to read the Vermont Bald Eagle Recovery Plan. It is an informative well-thought-out path to the goal of delisting the Bald Eagle from the endangered species list in Vermont, and offers guidance for how we as citizens can help the process along.
Just this past week, as cold weather settled in and the Connecticut River froze over, I have seen at least 4 Bald Eagles every day soaring over the remaining open waters below the Wilder Dam, and perching above bob houses on frozen ponds throughout the area seeking out ice fisherman’s cast off’s.
I look forward to the day when the Bald Eagle can be removed from the Vermont Endangered and Threatened list. A few more successful breeding years like 2012 and that day will be here much sooner than anyone could have hoped.
Please check out my website for more Bald Eagle images.