(NE) Bald Eagles break nest record in 2014

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/outdoors/bald-eagles-break-nest-record-in/article_2fcc35f8-b7c9-11e4-b92c-d79711c15933.html


POSTED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015 5:52 PM | UPDATED: 5:55 PM, WED FEB 18, 2015.
By Jerry Kane / Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN — A record 146 bald eagle nests were surveyed in 2014 by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and its partners, with 111 of the nests being active.

Bald eagles were on federal and state endangered species lists as late as 2007 and 2008, respectively. In less than a quarter century the species has gone from a nonexistent breeding species in the state to one that is relatively numerous, according to Joel Jorgensen, Game and Parks’ nongame bird program manager.

In the early 1980s, when federal recovery plans were written to save populations in the lower 48 states, the recovery goal for Nebraska was set at 10 breeding pairs. In 1991, Nebraska recorded its first active and successful bald eagle nest in approximately a century. In 2007, the number of nests had grown to 54 active nests. In 2014, there were 111 active nests.

“Bald eagles have relatively slow rate of reproduction compared to a prolific species, such as doves,” Jorgensen said. “It takes about three months for a bald eagle pair to successfully nurture two or three eggs into independent young eagles. If a bald eagle pair is experienced and lucky, they will raise two and sometimes even three eagles a year. Our data shows that Nebraska bald eagle pairs have produced, on average, 1.8 eagles per year.”

FULL story at link.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

1. I don't know where the nest is, but there have been sightings in West O, near Lake Zorinsky

About 3 months ago, I saw a pair out near Milford (just west of Lincoln).

[roamer65]

2. Keep an eye on your small pets if you let them out unattended.

In MI and OH, I have read they are finding a lot of small pet collars in and around the nests. The eagles are very active this time of year, as egg laying is coming soon.
From that high up, everything small and moving on the ground looks like dinner to a bald eagle.

[AtomicKitten]

3. Very cool news. Go birds!