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