Bald Eagles Make Strong Comeback in NJ

A new survey finds the recovery of the bald eagle has reached a new milestone in New Jersey.

A new survey released by the Department of Environmental Protection finds the recovery of the American bald eagle has reached a new milestone in New Jersey.

More than 100 pairs of bald eagles are now nesting in the Garden State, according to the new, 2011 analysis of the species' population.

The survey counted 102 pairs of actively nesting eagles and found 11 more pairs are trying to establish nests in the state. 16 new nests were found in South Jersey, with six more counted in northern and central Jersey.

In a release issued by the Department of Environmental Protection, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin called it a remarkable success story.  He said the state's bald eagle population has rebounded from having just one nesting pair in an isolated, South Jersey swamp in the early 1980's. Martin called it a "testament to the excellent work that has been done to manage the species."

Officials say the recovery of the eagle in New Jersey is also related to a ban on the use of DDT, a once widely-used pesticide.

Across the state, 75 percent of the eagles' nests successfully produced offspring.  A total of 119 eagle chicks were hatched.

The DEP reports a total of 238 bald eagles were counted during the survey.  That includes nesting eagles and those not nesting.
 

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