Page 4 l Kitchener Citizen - West Edition l March 19, 2015 by Helen Hall A fter nearly being eliminated from southern Ontario by 1980, the bald eagle population is on the rise, and the majestic birds are being seen more frequently in the Grand River Watershed. Grand River Conservation Authority’s (GRCA) Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecologist Tony Zammit said the number of bald eagles seen locally has dramatically increased. The first eagles’ nest he was aware of in the GRCA watershed was built near Byng Island, south of Brantford, in 1991. Today, he knows of seven or eight nests used each spring between Brantford and Kitchener. Zammit said the birds typically mate for life and return to the same nest each year. He said bald eagles feed mainly on fish, mallard and black ducks, gulls, and carrion, which is the decaying flesh of dead animals they find. The birds come back to their nests between December and February, lay their eggs in March or early April, and the babies hatch between April and June. The fledglings learn to fly by July. Zammit said that while the birds are beautiful to see and to photograph, people should keep their distance so as not to scare them away from their nests. Kitchener offers several locations along the Walter Bean Trail for bird lovers to try and get a peek at a bald eagle. The Clarica Lookout is located off Lookout Lane in Kitchener, near the Pioneer Tower. The Lookout was created from the remaining foundation of the Betzner family’s bank barn. The Betzner family settled in what was then known as Waterloo Township in 1800, and the barn was built in 1830. The Lookout gives an impressive view of the nearby Grand River and of any eagles that may be soaring overhead. An entrance to the The Walter Bean Grand River Trail is located near the Clarica Lookout. The trail leads down to the Walter Bean Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the Grand River. BANNED INSECTICIDE HARMED EGGS Jody Allair, a biologist and science educator with Bird Studies Canada in Port Rowan, calls the increase in the bald eagle population in Ontario “a success story.” “Their story shows the negative impact humans can have on the environment - and the positive impact too.” Allair said bald eagles are native to southern Ontario, and were very common in the 1800s. After that, their numbers dropped until they were nearly extinct. This was blamed primarily on habitat loss, hunting, and the introduction of the DDT insecticide into the environment. DDT made the eagle’s eggshells thin and weak, and their offspring did not survive. Laws now protect the bald eagle from being hunted, and DDT was eliminated in Canada and the United States in 1972. Allair estimates that bald eagles are at their highest population in southern Ontario since the 1930s. “Since DDT was banned, it has taken this long for the population to become healthy and expanding,” Allair said. “A lot of organizations have put decades of time, money and energy into helping these amazing birds.” Bird Studies Canada monitored bald eagles until 2011. The birds were reclassified from an endangered species to one of “special concern” in 2009. “Bald eagles are an amazing species,” Allair said. “They get people’s attention and get them interested in birds.” LIVING ON THE GRAND RIVER Soaring bald eagle population is an environmental success story TOP OF PAGE: One of the pairs of bald eagles that is nesting in Waterloo Region. ABOVE: A bald eagle stands on its capture, a Canada goose, by the Nith River in North Dumfries. AT LEFT: The Clarica Lookout in Kitchener offers a perfect spot to watch for bald eagles soaring over the Grand River. It was created from the remains of the Betzner Bank Barn and is located off Lookout Lane, near the Pioneer Tower that can be seen in the background. Photos by Helen Hall

Soaring eagle population is an environmental success story

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More bald eagles are being seen and nesting in the Grand River Watershed.by Helen Hall

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Page 4 l Kitchener Citizen - West Edition l March 19, 2015

by Helen Hall

After nearly being eliminated from southern Ontario by 1980, the bald eagle population is on the rise, and the majestic birds are being seen more frequently in the Grand River Watershed.

Grand River Conservation Authoritys (GRCA) Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecologist Tony Zammit said the number of bald eagles seen locally has dramatically increased.

The first eagles nest he was aware of in the GRCA watershed was built near Byng Island, south of Brantford, in 1991. Today, he knows of seven or eight nests used each spring between Brantford and Kitchener.

Zammit said the birds typically mate for life and return to the same nest each year.

He said bald eagles feed mainly on fish, mallard and black ducks, gulls, and carrion, which is the decaying flesh of dead animals they find.

The birds come back to their nests between December and February, lay their eggs in March or early April, and the babies hatch between April and June. The fledglings learn to fly by July.

Zammit said that while the birds are beautiful to see

and to photograph, people should keep their distance so as not to scare them away from their nests.

Kitchener offers several locations along the Walter Bean Trail for bird lovers to try and get a peek at a bald eagle.

The Clarica Lookout is located off Lookout Lane in Kitchener, near the Pioneer Tower. The Lookout was created from the remaining foundation of the Betzner familys bank barn. The Betzner family settled in what was then known as Waterloo Township in 1800, and the barn was built in 1830.

The Lookout gives an impressive view of the nearby Grand River and of any eagles that may be soaring overhead.

An entrance to the The Walter Bean Grand River Trail is located near the Clarica Lookout. The trail leads down to the Walter Bean Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the Grand River.

BANNED INSECTICIDE HARMED EGGSJody Allair, a biologist and science educator

with Bird Studies Canada in Port Rowan, calls the increase in the bald eagle population in Ontario a success story.

Their story shows the negative impact humans can have on the environment - and the positive

impact too.Allair said bald eagles are native to southern

Ontario, and were very common in the 1800s. After that, their numbers dropped until they were nearly extinct. This was blamed primarily on habitat loss, hunting, and the introduction of the DDT insecticide into the environment. DDT made the eagles eggshells thin and weak, and their offspring did not survive.

Laws now protect the bald eagle from being hunted, and DDT was eliminated in Canada and the United States in 1972.

Allair estimates that bald eagles are at their highest population in southern Ontario since the 1930s.

Since DDT was banned, it has taken this long for the population to become healthy and expanding, Allair said. A lot of organizations have put decades of time, money and energy into helping these amazing birds.

Bird Studies Canada monitored bald eagles until 2011. The birds were reclassified from an endangered species to one of special concern in 2009.

Bald eagles are an amazing species, Allair said. They get peoples attention and get them interested in birds.

LIVING ON THE GRAND RIVER

Soaring bald eagle population is an environmental success story

TOP OF PAGE: One of the pairs of bald eagles that is nesting in Waterloo Region. ABOVE: A bald eagle stands on its capture, a Canada goose, by the Nith River in North Dumfries. AT LEFT: The Clarica Lookout in Kitchener offers a perfect spot to watch for bald eagles soaring over the Grand River. It was created from the remains of the Betzner Bank Barn and is located off Lookout Lane, near the Pioneer Tower that can be seen in the background.

Photos by Helen Hall