Just 30 years ago, the bald eagle was a threatened species in Pennsylvania. Now, the national symbol has made its way into Schuylkill County as a dramatically higher population may remove the bald eagle from the state's list of threatened species.
"We didn't see them in the area like this. We didn't see them in Schuylkill County," said Denise Donmoyer, park naturalist and president of the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association. "Now they are starting to move into Schuylkill County again because the population is spreading. It's wonderful to see them. They are such an incredible bird."
The state Game Commission started a seven-year restoration project in 1983 when there were only three nesting pairs of bald eagles documented in the entire state - all of them in Crawford County in the northwestern part of the state bordering Ohio. According to a press release by the Game Commission, the population was decimated by the effects of water pollution, persecution and compromised nest success caused by organochlorine pesticides such as DDT.
Donmoyer said the chemicals caused the birds to lay brittle eggs, depleting the young eagle population.
In 2012, the Game Commission documented 237 nesting pairs in the state. As of last week, that number has grown to 266 confirmed nesting pairs and the Bureau of Wildlife Management has made the recommendation to delist the bald eagle as a state threatened species. Pennsylvania regulations define a threatened species as one that, throughout its range in the Commonwealth, may become endangered in the foreseeable future. The bald eagle was delisted as an endangered species in the state in 2005 when 100 nests were confirmed.
The recommendation was based on four goals outlined in the management plan: at least 150 active nests statewide; successful pairs in at least 40 counties; at least 60 percent success rate of known nests; and productivity of at least 1.2 eaglets fledged per successful nest.
Three of the goals have already been met over a five-year span and this year, the bald eagles will have successfully nested in at least 40 counties for the required time.
"It seems that each passing year writes a new chapter in the story of the bald eagle's success in Pennsylvania and the latest numbers and the recommendation to delist the eagle as a state-threatened species is the best news yet," Carl G. Roe, executive director of the state Game Commission, said in a press release. "But the story isn't over. Pennsylvania has plenty of good bald eagle habitat that's not currently being used by eagles. And as the years roll on, I'm sure eagles will give us plenty more to celebrate."
A pair of bald eagles recently had the first nest at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. The adult eagles and two eaglets can still be seen soaring over the park and Donmoyer is hoping to see them return next year.
"Obviously, they like the area and they are here because of the water," Donmoyer said.
The Game Commission recently produced a film documenting the last 30 years that will be screened at various locations throughout the state for free. "Pennsylvania Bald Eagles: Celebrating 30 Years of Restoration" will be shown at 5 p.m. Sept. 28 at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Endangered Species Biologist Patti Barber at the state Game Commission will be answering any questions following the video.
"There is nothing quite like seeing a bald eagle and if you want to see one come to Hawk Mountain," Mary Linkevich, director of communications and grants at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, said.
Linkevich said a pair of eagles are frequently seen there and probably have a nest nearby.
"There is definitely more than one nest in Schuylkill County, which is great," she said.
Now is the peak time to see eagles at Hawk Mountain. Linkevich said the chance of spotting the bird is about 50 percent in the afternoon. The average number of eagles spotted at Hawk Mountain is 261, Linkevich said. The record was 406 in 2010.
The bald eagle's return is something that should be celebrated, Linkevich said.
"I consider it something that's very rare but it's an exciting success story to have a complete turn around," she said.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will meet late this month in Westmoreland County, where the proposal to delist will be formally made.
If the bald eagle is delisted, it will continue to be protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Act. Under law, those who harm or disturb eagles are subject to civil penalties of up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine for their first offense and criminal convictions in fines as high as $250,000.
The state Game Commission recommends that people get no closer than 1,000 feet to an eagle nest. Fore more information on bald eagles, visit the Game Commission's website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.