Bald Eagles Make Camp ASCCA Home

Two Bald Eagles, national bird of the U.S., have been located on the Camp ASCCA property. We have confirmed sightings of a male and female, with two hatchlings reportedly living in the nest.

Once extremely endangered, the bald eagle has seen significant increases in population over the past 20 years. Much of this increase can be credited to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Nongame Wildlife Program. In 1984 they started the Bald Eagle Restoration Project, which led to the first nesting in Alabama since 1949.

Historically nesting in the Gulf Coast Region and Tennessee Valley, the bald eagle population was devastated by the effects of DDT pesticide poisoning. The pesticide weakened the eagle eggs, causing the shells to break during incubation. Wintering birds almost completely disappeared from Alabama. After DDT was banned in 1972 the eagle population slowly increased. The Bald Eagle Restoration Project used a process known as hacking, releasing juvenile eagles in an area for their first flight, to begin fully restoring the population in our state.

In Alabama, bald eagles typically nest near major lake and river systems. Their diet is mostly comprised of fish, but small animals such as rats, rabbits, raccoons, and snakes are also eaten. Their nests can reach 10 feet in diameter and weigh up to 2000 pounds. Their life span is estimated at 30 years.

This photo was taken by Tom Collier. He joined many of the Lee-Scott groups in hiking to the nesting area. All the children were able to see at least one of the eagles. Tom estimates that the eagles have been nesting on camp property for about 5 years.

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