OAK HARBOR, OH -- Despite March's chilly temperatures, Ohio's bald eagles are welcoming spring with the addition of young in numerous nests across the state. The first eggs of the season recently began hatching in nests, with 10 nests now holding eaglets, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
State wildlife biologists have documented a record 70 bald eagle territories in Ohio this year. Several additional areas where eagles may be in the process of building nests are also being monitored.
Hatching season will peak in the next couple weeks, with most of the state's breeding eagle pairs expected to be caring for young by the end of April, according to Mark Shieldcastle, ODNR Division of Wildlife biologist.
"ODNR wildlife biologists and our crew of volunteers stay very busy keeping track of Ohio's growing eagle population during the breeding season," Shieldcastle said. "We monitor adult eagle pairs to determine the success of the nesting season. We look for new nests, and for indications of when pairs will begin incubating eggs. We will also monitor when the eggs hatch and how many young fledge in each nest."
Last year, a record 63 bald eagle pairs nested in the state and produced a record 89 young.
Record hatches over the past decade are contributing to the tremendous growth in the state's bald eagle population. The number of new nests continue to increase each year as young raised in Ohio nests reach maturity and establish their own nesting territories. Seven new nests have been confirmed so far this year: two in Portage County, and one each in Erie, Geauga, Lorain, Lucas, and Sandusky counties.
The 70 nests recorded this year are located in 24 counties including: Coshocton (1), Delaware (1), Erie (7), Geauga (2), Guernsey (1), Harrison (1), Henry (1), Huron (1), Knox (2), Lorain (2), Lucas (5), Mahoning (1), Marion (1), Mercer (1), Noble (1), Ottawa (10), Portage (4), Ross (1), Sandusky (10), Seneca (4), Trumbull (5), Wayne (1), Wood (2), and Wyandot (5).
Anyone observing nest building activity by an eagle pair should contact their county wildlife officer or the ODNR Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE.
The state's bald eagle restoration efforts are funded by the sale of the Ohio conservation license plates, including the bald eagle and cardinal plates, and contributions to the state income tax checkoff program for wildlife diversity and endangered species. The license plates can be purchased through a deputy registrar license outlet or by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles toll-free at 1-888-PLATES3.
Ohio taxpayers can donate all or a portion of their state income tax refund to the Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species Fund by checking the appropriate box on their 2000 state income tax form.