FIRST OHIO EAGLE NEST OF 2005 SEASON UNDERWAY
OAK HARBOR, OH - Ohio’s bald eagle nesting season is underway as an eagle pair in Huron County has already begun incubating eggs, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The eagle pair began sitting on the eggs at the end of the first week of February and wildlife biologists anticipate the eggs will hatch sometime in mid-March. Near record numbers of bald eagles were identified in the state last month during the annual mid-winter eagle survey and nests are expected to exceed the number identified in 2004.
During the mid-winter survey in January, biologists observed bald eagles in 55 of the state’s 88 counties, most along the western shore of Lake Erie. Eagles are expanding their range around the state, establishing nesting territories in southern Ohio.
“Last year, a milestone of more than 100 nesting pairs of eagles was recorded in the state,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife. “We are looking forward to another successful nesting season.”
Ohio's bald eagle population grew from only four nesting pairs along the southwestern Lake Erie shore 26 years ago, to a record 108 eagle nests in 2004. Those pairs produced 127 young.
Division of Wildlife staff and a dedicated group of trained volunteers monitor existing nests and continue to look for nests that may as yet be undiscovered.
Active nests are located in the following 37 Ohio counties: Ashtabula (3), Coshocton (1); Crawford (1); Defiance (2); Delaware (1); Erie (10); Geauga (3); Guernsey (1); Hancock (1); Hardin (1); Harrison (1); Henry (1); Holmes (1); Huron (2); Knox (3); Lake (1); Lorain (2); Lucas (5); Mahoning (2); Marion (1); Mercer (1); Morgan (1); Muskingum (1); Noble (1); Ottawa (16); Portage (3); Putnam (1); Richland (1); Ross (3); Sandusky (15); Seneca (5); Summit (1); Trumbull (6); Tuscarawas (1); Wayne (1); Wood (4) and Wyandot (7).
Anyone who observes eagles building a new nest should contact the state wildlife officer for that county or a wildlife district office. Individuals are reminded that state and federal laws protect bald eagles and their nest sites. Any type of disturbance around a nest could cause the birds to abandon the site or discourage them from using the nest in the future.
Bald eagles range over great distances until mature enough to breed at 3 to 4 years of age. They usually return to nest within 100 miles of where they were raised. Although eagles generally keep the same mate, if one of the pair should die, the other will find another mate. An eagle's life span in the wild is about 15 to 20 years.
Bald eagles build huge nests in the tops of tall trees near water, and often re-use the nest year after year. Nests may reach 10 feet across and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. Eagles lay two to three eggs once a year. The eggs hatch in about 35 days.
The young will fly within three months, but remain under the care of the adults for another seven to 10 weeks. Immature eagles are mottled brown in color and do not acquire their signature white head and tail feathers until age 5 or 6.
The Division of Wildlife initiated the state’s bald eagle restoration program in 1979. The bald eagle management program is partially funded by donations to the state income tax check-off program for Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species. Contributions to the fund can be made by checking line 24 on form 1040 or line 16 on EZ form on the 2004 state income tax form.
The program is also funded by the sale of Ohio conservation license plates, including the bald eagle and cardinal plates. The license plates can be purchased through a deputy registrar license outlet, on the Internet at oplates.com or by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 1-888-PLATES3.