Bald Eagle

The bald eagle, our national symbol, is truly an all-American bird, the only eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's recovery from an endangered status is a conservation success story. Shooting and habitat loss, as well as pesticide-caused reproductive failure, resulted in a decline in their numbers. In 1978, the bald eagle was listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Banning the use of the pesticide DDT and the protection given through the ESA helped their numbers rebound. Improved water quality, reintroduction back into the wild, and extensive public education efforts also aided in their recovery. In 2007, they were officially removed from the federal Endangered Species List. There were only three active nests in PA in 1980, and by 2017, there were over 275.