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March 7, 2007
OHIO'S FIRST EAGLET OF 2007 HATCHES IN HURON COUNTY
Bald Eagle Resources
 COLUMBUS, OH - The first eaglet of 2007 has hatched in Huron County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The agency's volunteer eagle watchers, who have been observing the nest since incubation began in late January, reported at least one eaglet hatched on March 5. It will be several weeks before wildlife biologists can determine how many eaglets are in the nest.
The incubation period for bald eagle eggs is 35 days. Young eagles fledge 72 to 75 days after hatching and leave their home nesting territory by the time they are 18 to 20 weeks old.
Currently, adult bald eagles are incubating eggs in 58 nests across the state - evidence of the success of Ohio's bald eagle management program. A record 158 active eagle territories have been identified in the state so far this year.
Twenty-nine years ago, there were only four nesting pairs of bald eagles in the state, mostly along the Lake Erie shore. In 2006, a record 150 eagle pairs produced 206 young.
Ohio's bald eagle management program is partially funded by donations to the state income tax check-off fund for Wildlife Diversity & Endangered Species. Contributions to the fund can be made by checking line 28 (Form 1040) or line 21 (EZ Form) on the 2006 state income tax form. Donations can also be made via the Internet at ohiodnr.com/wildlife. Click on the red "donate" button on the left side of the page.
The program is also funded by the sale of Ohio bald eagle license plates. The license plates can be purchased through a deputy registrar license outlet, online at OPLATES.com, or by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles toll-free at 1-888-PLATES3.
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