Catching a glimpse of one of Indiana’s most majestic forms of wildlife is a rare occurrence that happens more in the winter months, so get your binoculars ready. Many picture Eagles as being native to the western part of the United States. Maybe that idea comes from TV shows, movies, or cartoons, but they are generally more associated with Colorado’s mountains than Southern Indiana’s hills.
According to the US National Parks Service, bald eagles can be found in every state, as well as parts of Canada and northern Mexico. They prefer to nest and perch in tall trees that give them a good view of their surroundings.
Today is National Save The Eagles Day, which is intended to bring awareness about eagles and to give thanks for the conservation efforts to prevent their extinction.
“Bald eagles have made a remarkable return,” said Laura Edmunds with the Indiana Raptor Center in Brown County, “In the 1980s, the population was literally zero in Indiana; now, there are around 370 pairs thanks to reintroduction efforts.” Nests can be found in over half of Indiana’s 92 counties. The greatest concentrations are at the larger lakes and reservoirs, such as Patoka and Monroe reservoirs, along larger rivers, especially the Wabash, White, and Ohio Rivers. If you find an injured eagle, take it to the nearest animal hospital, if possible, and notify DNR.
National Save the Eagles Day was founded by the local community of Ridgefield Village Park and the Bergen County Audubon Society in an effort to rescue one particular couple of eagles whose habitat was at risk.
When these two eagles, named Alice and Al, built their home in Ridgefield overlooking Overpeck Creek, there was some concern about health risks that might be involved, and a development corporation decided to remove the eagles. However, the local community was unhappy with the solution, and they decided to organize a way to allow this eagle couple to keep their home, and they succeeded.
Even though National Save the Eagles Day was originally established around a specific set of eagles, it has now gained traction, and the celebration has spread.
Bald eagles are no longer on the endangered species list. However, they are still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Acts. Poaching bald eagles is a serious offense. Penalties under MBTA include a maximum of two years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for a felony conviction and six months imprisonment or a $5,000 fine for a misdemeanor conviction. Fines double if the violator is an organization rather than an individual.
For more on the bald eagles in Indiana, visit https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/bald-eagle/.
