Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) have documented 94 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Georgia during the 20052006 nesting season. The figure represents a 15 percent increase from the previous season's total of 82 active nests.

"The bald eagle population in Georgia had apparently flattened out over the past three years, with known nesting pairs numbering in the low 80s," said WRD Sr. Wildlife Biologist Jim Ozier. "It is extremely encouraging to see that figure increase this year, along with the number of young produced."

Among the documented nests this year, 76 were successful in fledging 120 young eagles, the highest total since the state began recording the data in 1978. Last nesting season, 62 nests were successful in fledging 94 young eagles. The state's previous highest documented production of young was 107 in 2004.

"Just a few years ago, conservation agencies were spending thousands of dollars per bird to release captivereared eaglets into the wild," Ozier said. "Now, wild eagles are doing a much better job on their own, and on a broader scale."

Because the large raptors often eat fish, waterbirds and even turtles, most eagle nests in Georgia are found along the coast and near major rivers or reservoirs. Some nests are located near smaller bodies of water if food is abundant.

Bald eagles in Georgia usually nest atop tall pine or cypress trees, and typically use the same nest year after year. WRD biologists conduct aerial surveys each year to observe known nesting sites and to investigate potential new sites. The increase in documented nests this year includes some new nests, as well as the discovery of several previously unknown nests.

Biologists are also interested in receiving reports of possible nesting activity from the public, which occasionally leads to the discovery of new nests. Eagle pairs normally return to their territories by late summer or early fall and lay eggs by December. The fall or winter presence of a pair of adult eagles near a body of water might indicate nesting activity.

Scientists believe the widespread use of the pesticide Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) dealt a serious blow to the bald eagle population in the 1950s and 1960s, and no active nests could be found in Georgia during most of the 1970s. Since the banning of DDT in 1972 and the passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the species has slowly made a recovery in Georgia and throughout the country.

The majestic birds are listed as endangered under Georgia's Endangered Wildlife Act, and are federally listed as a threatened species. Georgia's bald eagle population has steadily increased during the past 25 years, climbing from one nesting pair to the current total.

Based on the bird's continuing recovery, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward with a proposal to remove the bald eagle from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. If the bald eagle is delisted, it will continue to be protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

"The bald eagle is a great conservation success story in Georgia and across the nation," Ozier said. "With continued funding and support from public and private organizations, we hope to see similar examples with other species in the future."

Georgians can support conservation of bald eagles and other nongame wildlife by purchasing a license plate featuring a bald eagle or a hummingbird for their vehicle, or by donating to the "Give Wildlife a Chance" State Income Tax Checkoff. Sales of the wildlife license plates are the primary source of funding for the WRD Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section.

For more information about bald eagles and other protected wildlife in Georgia, visit www.georgiawildlife.com . To report nesting activity of bald eagles, call the WRD Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section at (478) 994-1438.