Bald eagles are listed as endangered in Vermont, and are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Although they are being considered for removal from the federal endangered and threatened species lists, the proposal has been pending since 1999 because of uncertainty regarding the level of protection that will remain in effect under federal legislation.
Two territorial
pairs were noted in Vermont in 2005, and one pair successfully
hatched young in the spring of 2006 - the first pair to breed
in Vermont in decades. Unfortunately, the young did
not survive to fledging. Bald eagles are known to breed
in every state and Canadian province bordering the state.
The Vermont Bald Eagle Restoration Initiative hopes to hasten
that success here.
The two territorial
pairs of eagles nested in the Connecticut River valley in
2005, and there have been increasing numbers of sightings,
in winter and summer, on Lake Champlain. One adult and one
immature bald eagle have also been seen regularly in summer
at Chittenden Reservoir in Rutland County the past few years,
and they are seen occasionally at Lake Arrowhead in Milton.
Several other sites are highlighted on the map.
The primary goal of the Vermont Bald Eagle Restoration Initiative is to establish a self-sustaining breeding population of bald eagles distributed among three regions of Vermont. This would justify removing the species from the Vermont list of endangered and threatened species.
The return of breeding bald eagles
to Lake Champlain would be a powerful signal to all that the
decades of work associated with the protection of the lake
and its surrounding watershed is making a difference. Although
the lake still suffers from a variety of water quality problems
such as nuisance aquatic species, imported air pollutants,
stormwater discharges and excessive nutrient loading in certain
areas, the overall health of the lake has improved to the
point where it can support the return of a top-level aquatic
predator.
Report
bald eagle sitings! The bald eagles we've released
have large metal bands on each leg. If you see an eagle, with
or without a ban, let us know. We want to know where and when
you saw the bird, whether it was with other eagles, and whether
there is any white on the head or tail. We'd also like a description
of the bird's activity.
If you have a spotting scope and can
identify a band number, that will help us track the released
birds' progress and movements.
Below is a list
of the 10 birds released in 20065, and their state of origin.
6/H
- Maryland
6/X - Maryland
6/Y - Maryland
D/A - Maryland
D/B - Maryland
D/C - Maryland
D/D - Massachusetts (hatched in captivity)
D/M - Maine
D/N - Maine
D/K - Maine
Below is a list
of the 11 birds released in 2005, and their state of origin.
7/K - Maryland
7/M - Maryland
7/N - Maryland
7/P - Maryland
7/U - Maryland
7/R - Maryland
5/Z
- Virginia
6/D
- Massachusetts
7/V
- New York
6/E - New York
7/S
- Maine
Below is a list
of the eight birds released in 2004, and their state of origin.
6/A
- Maryland
6/B - Maryland
7/A - Massachusetts
7/B - Massachusetts
7/C
- Massachusetts
7/D - Maine
7/E - Maine
7/H - Maine
To report an eagle
sighting, drop an email to Eveleen Cecchini at director@ofes.org.
For more information
on bald eagles in Vermont, and the Vermont Bald Eagle Restoration
Initiative, click on the links below:
Restoration Initiative
Downlisting & Delisting Criteria
Hack Boxes
Partners
Vermont breeding?
How you can help
Regional Breeding Eagle Counts
People Behind the Eagles
Terms of Use - Copyright 2007 Central Vermont Public Service
Copyright photos CVPS,
Floyd Scholz
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife
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