Fish & Wildlife Service of these, 1,500 to 2,000 pairs nest in Virginia. Bald Eagle populations in the lower 48 states reached a low of 417 nesting pairs in 1963, but grew to 71,400 nesting pairs (and 316,700 individuals) by 2020, according to a report published by the U.S. Since then, these species have experienced population growth and recovery thanks to conservation efforts and (for three of them) prior listing under the U.S. A few spots where Bald Eagles are regularly seen include Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the coast, and several Northern Virginia nesting sites, including Riverbend Park in Fairfax County, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve in Alexandria, and Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Woodbridge.Ĭonservation: Populations of the Bald Eagle, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, and Brown Pelican plummeted due to exposure to the pesticide DDT, until the chemical compound was banned in 1972. Resident eagles in the Chesapeake Bay are augmented by northern migrants in winter, and by individuals from as far as Florida in the summer. Location: Bald Eagles can be found year-round in much of Virginia, but are most common near water along major rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and coasts. Like the more abundant Osprey, the Bald Eagle mainly eats fish, although it will also readily scavenge roadkill and steal food from other birds. It is a majestic species that varies in coloration, since it takes several years to mature and achieve the iconic white head/white tail adult plumage. national bird, the Bald Eagle can be seen soaring overhead almost anywhere in the state. One of Virginia's largest bird species and the U.S. This post is part of a five-part series in which we look at some of our favorite bird groups in Virginia ( backyard birds, grassland birds, waterbirds, and forest birds) by profiling some of the most captivating species in each.īald Eagle. Read on to learn about Virginia raptors to watch for, and keep your eyes on the skies, as any of these species might soar overhead when you least expect it. ![]() and Canada increased by 78 percent (15 million birds), and Osprey populations quadrupled, since 1970. According to research published by ABC and other partners in 2019, populations of hawks and eagles in the U.S. As raptor populations expand, some species are becoming more common in our urban areas, including the Cooper's Hawk, Mississippi Kite, and Peregrine Falcon.ĭay-flying raptors and waterfowl are two groups with steadily recovering populations in North America. Virginia hosts a diversity of raptor species, and there are hawk-watching opportunities at coastal and mountain sites during migration, which are usually most active in autumn.
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