Friday
Apr022021
Still a thrill to see an eagle
Friday, April 2, 2021 at 09:24AM 
In the Lower 48, bald eagles were at an all-time low 417 nesting pairs in 1963, the numbers ravaged by the use of the DDT. The pesticide poisoned eagles and also caused them to produce thinner eggshells that would break under their weight. DDT was banned in 1972. Already shielded by federal law, the eagle was one of the original species protected by the Endangered Species Act when it went into effect in 1973. EAGLE EPICENTER, Star Tribune, 4/2/21
I often see eagles both perched and on the wing while out walking and hiking. Whether along the Minnesota or Mississippi Rivers and even above the residential streets of suburban Burnsville (MN), sighting an eagle is fairly common. I know locations on trails where nests are easy to find and some locations in the winter where ice-free water draws in the birds. It's not unusual to spot deer, hawks, wild turkeys, or even coyotes in the parks and woodlands only a short drive from my home. While I always get a kick out seeing any critters in the wild, somehow seeing a soaring eagle gives me a thrill every time.
It was not until the mid-90s when I first spotted an eagle in the wild. A friend and I with our families were spending a Labor Day weekend on Lake Vermillion in northern Minnesota and rented a small boat to cruise around the choppy lake. It was during that bumpy ride that we caught sight of a lone eagle above us flying toward an island. It was so exciting, as I remember, we ran into a rock in the lake (I was not piloting.) Sightings grew more common after that.
As the opening quote suggests, I never saw an eagle or any other raptor growing up in Iowa. DDT pretty much wiped all these species out.
Knowing I see eagles today because of political action our country took to protect the species by banning DDT is why these sightings do my heart good. We as a society do have the power to make laws that may upset special interest groups (farmers I am sure did not like the ban on DDT), but benefit the environment. I predict we will eventually see a ban on lead pellets in shotgun shells that Kill many birds which digest them. Stronger auto emission controls, pushes for electric vehicles, stringent environmental reviews of new mines and piplelines are all possible.
A soaring eagle reminds me that we are capable of thinking long term despite short term complaints.
It was not until the mid-90s when I first spotted an eagle in the wild. A friend and I with our families were spending a Labor Day weekend on Lake Vermillion in northern Minnesota and rented a small boat to cruise around the choppy lake. It was during that bumpy ride that we caught sight of a lone eagle above us flying toward an island. It was so exciting, as I remember, we ran into a rock in the lake (I was not piloting.) Sightings grew more common after that.
As the opening quote suggests, I never saw an eagle or any other raptor growing up in Iowa. DDT pretty much wiped all these species out.
Knowing I see eagles today because of political action our country took to protect the species by banning DDT is why these sightings do my heart good. We as a society do have the power to make laws that may upset special interest groups (farmers I am sure did not like the ban on DDT), but benefit the environment. I predict we will eventually see a ban on lead pellets in shotgun shells that Kill many birds which digest them. Stronger auto emission controls, pushes for electric vehicles, stringent environmental reviews of new mines and piplelines are all possible.
A soaring eagle reminds me that we are capable of thinking long term despite short term complaints.
Reader Comments (1)
In my opinion, Bald eagles are one of the best eagles in the world. I love watching bald eagles flying. It makes me feel the freedom