Bald Eagles Nesting In Susquehanna County?

By Dr. Jerry Skinner

 

            Probably not since before the days of DDT have Bald Eagles nested in Susquehanna County.  Is this the year they return?

            Eagle sightings in the county have been on the increase.  Streamside residents along the stretch of the Susquehanna River from the area of Hallstead and Great Bend to Oakland and Susquehanna have been reporting them year round for the past several years.

            Does this mean they are nesting here?

            This past January, Charlie Denkenberger and I participated in the national Midwinter Bald Eagle Count.  Eagles winter along rivers and lakes that remain ice free so that they can continue to catch fish, their primary food.  We surveyed all parts of the Susquehanna River in the county.  We were very pleased when we found four eagles, two white-headed adults and two brown immatures. 

            Over the next months, adult eagles were found on nearly every trip to the river.  As late spring approached, we began wondering whether they would stay here to nest. 

            On May 28, while on a birdwalk along Harmony Road sponsored by Woodbourne Forest & Wildlife Preserve, an adult eagle was seen flying down the river!  By the standards of the 2nd Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas project, this rates as evidence of “probable breeding”.  This means that although the actual nest has not been located, adult birds have been seen regularly in suitable habitat during the time of year when eagles nest in other parts of the state.

            Despite their large size, eagle nests can sometimes be difficult to locate.  An average nest is about 5 feet in diameter and can weigh hundreds of pounds.  They grow larger each year as the pair adds to it.  They are placed in large (50-150 ft) trees and are usually found near a large river, swamp, or lake.  However, they are often placed in pines, which hide them with their evergreen needles.

            So far, we have been unable to find a nest in Susquehanna County.  Do you know where it is?  If so, please contact Dr. Jerry Skinner (278-3384) or the Pennsylvania Game Commission regional office in Dallas, PA (675-1143).

            After many years of successful management and recovery, the Bald Eagle is now listed as threatened in the lower 48 states.  This year a record high of about 90 nests (including 15 new ones) has been reported by the PA Game Commission.  However, because it still is an endangered species in Pennsylvania, the location of the nest will be kept confidential to protect the birds and minimize disturbance.

Photo by Hal Korber.  This photo is in the public domain and was taken from the PA Game Commission website.