COLUMBUS — Ohio’s bald eagle population continues to grow in numbers and expand in territory.
Biologists with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife counted a record 215 nests in the state this year, the 22nd consecutive year that the state’s breeding bald eagle population has increased.
Of those 215 nests, 113 were known to be successful in producing young eagles.
Nearly 200 young eagles
Current reports from wildlife biologists and volunteer observers have estimated a minimum of 197 total young eagles produced in nests in 52 Ohio counties.
According to Andrea Tibbels, bald eagle project coordinator with the ODNR Division of Wildlife, last year, Ohio had 184 nests, with 119 of the nests producing an estimated 222 eaglets (a determination of the number of eaglets in 16 nests could not be made).
This year, 33 new nests have been identified.
Dramatic comeback
Since 1979 — when only four bald eagle pairs were found in the state — the Ohio Division of Wildlife has helped re-establish Ohio’s eagle population through habitat development and protection; fostering of young eagles; and extensive observation of eagle nesting behavior.
Most eagle nests in Ohio are located along the shores of Lake Erie, but now some are well inland, including nests in Delaware, Hancock, Mercer and Wyandot counties.
New nests
Counties with new nests in 2009 were Butler, Franklin, Hamilton, Logan, Medina, Montgomery, Paulding, Pike and Scioto.
A majority of the nests occur on private land.
Question; Are there white eagles in Ohio, or am I looking at a white falcon on our place. The bird seems to be (nesting?) as we see it here quite often. It is really large bird (eagle size) looks (seems) to be all white. We live in northeastern Champaign county Ohio any comments