Bald Eagle Restoration:
Restore Bald Eagles to the Channel Islands

By the early 1960s, bald eagles disappeared from the Channel Islands due to human impacts, primarily the introduction of DDT and other contaminants into the environment.

Now, over 40 years later, levels of DDTs and PCBs continue to cause reproductive problems in bald eagles reintroduced onto Catalina Island. Because of the continuing problems, and because the eagles have not naturally recolonized the rest to the Channel Islands, the Trustees initiated a feasibility study in 2002 to determine whether bald eagles reintroduced to the Northern Channel Islands might have greater reproductive success than those on Catalina Island.

Project Update - Successful Breeding on the Channel Islands!
In 2006, two nests were discovered on Santa Cruz Island and each nest successfully fledged a chick. This milestone represented the first time in 50 years that bald eagles successfully reproduced on the Channel Islands without human intervention.

In 2007, only one of two nests was successful on Santa Cruz Island. However, on Catalina Island, four eggs hatched naturally in the Seal Rocks and Pinnacle Rocks nest. This was the first time in over 50 years that bald eagles on Catalina Island successfully hatched eggs on their own!

During the 2008 breeding season, three nests were documented on Santa Cruz Island and a nest on Santa Rosa Island was also discovered. On Catalina Island, a total of seven eggs hatched naturally from four different nests. Four eggs were also removed from two additional nests on Catalina Island and were artificially incubated. In total, eleven eggs hatched naturally on the Channel Islands in 2008.

Nesting activity for 2009 has just begun with the first eagle egg laid in mid-February on Catalina Island. We anticipate seven breeding pairs on Catalina Island and up to six pairs on the northern Channel Islands.

Project Update - Contaminant Monitoring
From 2002 to 2006, 62 bald eagle juveniles were released on Santa Cruz Island. The birds have moved between the Channel Islands and have crossed the Santa Barbara Channel to the mainland. As part of the monitoring program, biologists recapture released eagles in order to collect blood and feather samples. These samples are analyzed to determine ongoing exposure of bald eagles to contaminants in the marine environment.

Project Update - Santa Cruz Island EagleCAM
With the successful hatching of a chick on Santa Cruz Island, MSRP worked closely with the Ventura County Office of Education, Institute for Wildlife Studies, and National Park Service to set up the Santa Cruz Island EagleCAM , a solar-powered camera to broadcast live images of the nest via internet to classrooms and households accross the world. Bald eagle enthusiasts can now share their observations with each other and biologists.

This year, the EagleCAM is back online, with an audio feed to enhance viewing. The Ventura County Office of Education continues to maintain an informational website and discussion board with updates on the bald eagles across the Channel Islands. Biologists from the Institute for Wildlife Studies provide weekly updates on the status of the bald eagles eaglefix.com

Project Reports

Management
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, 2007
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, 2006
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on the Northern Channel Islands, 2006
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on the Northern Channel Islands, 2005
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, 2005
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on the Northern Channel Islands, 2004
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, 2004
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on the Northern Channel Islands, California, 2003
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, 2002
Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, 2001

Contaminant Monitoring
MSRP Bald Eagle Contaminants Study, 2006
MSRP Bald Eagle Contaminants Study, 2005
MSRP Bald Eagle Contaminants Study, 2004

Press Releases
Bald eagles lay first egg in 50 years on the northern Channel Islands.
Bald eagle chick brings renewed hope for Channel Islands restoration.
Second bald eagle chick hatches on Santa Cruz Island.
Live bald eagle cam - up and running on Santa Cruz Island!
Bald eagle chick takes historic first flight.
Stork visits bald eagles on Santa Cruz Island
Spring Success for Bald Eagles on the Channel Islands
Bald eaglets driven from their nest on the Northern Channel Islands
Bald eagle chick with broken wing returns to the wild