Bald Eagle To Be Removed From New Jersey Endangered List (2024)

FAQs

Has the bald eagle been removed from the endangered species list? ›

Even though bald eagles were delisted from the Endangered Species Act in August 2007, because their populations recovered sufficiently, bald eagles are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Decades of habitat loss and the use of DDT, an agricultural pesticide banned in 1972 for harming people and wildlife, dwindled the bald eagle population down to just a single recorded nest in the Garden State.

Remaining threats to Bald Eagles are minor and current analyses indicate that the population continues to grow. The Bald Eagle was delisted at the state level by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in 2016 and the species has continued to prosper.

But bald eagles still face many threats, including human disturbance, habitat loss and contaminants in the food web, including lead from shotgun pellets in deer carrion. Breeding eagles are listed as endangered in New Jersey, while non-breeding eagles are listed as threatened.

A violation of the Act can result in a fine of $100,000 ($200,000 for organizations), imprisonment for one year, or both, for a first offense. Penalties increase substantially for additional offenses, and a second violation of this Act is a felony.

Bald eagles once teetered on the brink of extinction, reaching an all-time low of 417 known nesting pairs in 1963 in the lower 48 states. Now, the bald eagle population has climbed to an estimated 316,700 individual bald eagles, including 71,400 nesting pairs.

Sadly, the Philippine Eagle holds the title for being one of the most endangered raptors in the world. Many factors have contributed to the decline of this stunning bird of prey. Like the Ridgway's Hawk, this eagle is endemic to an island nation.

Bald eagles are a very important part of the environment. By eating dead animal matter, they help with nature's clean-up process. Bald eagles are also hunters, so they keep animal populations strong. They do this by killing weak, old, and slower animals, leaving only the healthiest to survive.

Although the Service removed the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, the bird continues to be protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Are bald eagles coming back? ›

Recovery Efforts

Populations have been able to thrive and reproduce adequately in most of California. Bald eagles have been able to re-occupy much of their former range. Many breeding territories are being maintained and protected under local management plans. Key winter habitats are monitored annually.

As a result of conservation efforts, the bald eagle population has risen from a mere 417 nesting pairs in 1963 to more than 71,400 nesting pairs and an estimated 316,700 individual birds in the Lower 48 today. Bald eagles make a high-pitched squeaking sound.

While eagles eat mostly fish during the warmer months, they feed on waterfowl, muskrat, and carrion during winter and early spring. New Jersey bald eagles reside year-round, usually remaining in their nest area.

Bald eagles are found in all 48 continental states as well as Alaska. Only Hawaii doesn't have bald eagles. The Pacific Northwest has a very large bald eagle poplulation, with hundreds of pairs breeding in Oregon and Washington.

On August 9, 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species, where it had been listed for 34 years. Nationwide, the US Fish and Wildlife Service reported in December, 2018, that the number of nesting pairs in the contiguous United States was 9789.

(Army News Service, June 28, 2007) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today the removal of the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species.

Bald eagles were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in 2007, and are no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act. However, bald eagles remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.