The US National Emblem is making its way to southern California. Who are we talking about? The bald eagle, of course.
Over the last few years more bald eagle sightings are occuring at San Diego Bay, Mission Bay, Lake Jennings, Lake Hodges, Lake Henshaw, Cuyamaca Lake and Lake Wohlford during the winter months as they migrate South.
They are definitely not common, but also not incredibly rare anymore.
Why are we seeing more of them?
Historically, bald eagles were widespread and abundant in California By the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species, fewer than 30 nesting pairs remained in California--all in the northern third of the State. Although overhunting was a threat, the use of the pesticide, DDT, was the bald eagles' the most serious problem. It was later determined that DDT was poisoning bald eagles causing egg shell thinning that resulted in many failed nesting attempts. Once the DDT was banned, California's bald eagles began making a slow comeback and revisiting old hunting grounds.
What to look for? The bald eagle is one of North America's largest birds, weighing about 8 to 14 pounds and has a wingspan of 6½ to 8 feet. Females are larger than males.Adults are dark brown with a pure white head and tail. Younger birds are mostly brown, mottled with varying amounts of white. They acquire their adult plumage at 4 or 5 years of age.
Where/when to find them? Bald eagles mainly feed on fish. So your best chances are heading to larger bodies of water: lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and coastal wetlands. Some have been sited in Ramona grasslands, as well.
Best viewing is in winter months (Dec-lat Feb), in the early morning or evening hours- although some have been spotted mid-day.
Keep Your Distance.
It's important to keep your distance to not stress or spook the birds. We want them to keep coming around. Local bird experts said eagle watchers should try to maintain a 100-yard distance.
Conservation status
According to California Fish & Wildlife, the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in 2007, but remains endangered in California. Although the Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from endangered status, the bird will still be protected by the Migratory Bird Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
How can we help them?
One of the biggest threats to bald eagles is lead. Lead has and is still poisoning bald eagles throughout the United States when it's inadvertently digested while feeding on un-retrieved carcasses —gut piles, varmint carcasses left in the field, and carcasses of game that couldn't be located. So please be responsible outdoorsmen.
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