Bald Eagle Restoration:
Restore Bald Eagles to the Channel Islands

Background

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 are still high in bald eagles that have been reintroduced to the Channel Islands. In 2002, MSRP initiated a feasibility study to determine whether bald eagles reintroduced to the Northern Channel Islands might have greater reproductive success than those on Catalina Island. In 2010, biologists anticipate at least 5 nesting pairs on Catalina Island and at least 6 nesting pairs on the Northern Channel Islands. All of the nests will be monitored by biologists on the islands. It is still too early to tell if the reintroductions have created a sustainable bald eagle population on the Northern Channel Islands. Monitoring of nesting success and contaminant levels will continue at this time on the Northern Channel Islands and Catalina Island.

Visit the EagleCAM , discussion board and check out weekly updates  on the status of bald eagles from biologists at the Institute for Wildlife Studies.