It has been another good year for bald eagles breeding in Georgia. The yearly surveys from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) show a higher-than-average success rate for nests Dr. Bob Sargent, leading the study, finds this year’s findings are even more positive than last year’s.

Survey Key Points

• A total of 145 breeding areas were observed this year and 116 of them had successful nests.
• In total, 178 baby eagles were hatched and left the nest.
• Northern and northwestern Georgia saw a success rate of 71%. Coastal, central, and northeastern Georgia did even better with an impressive rate of 82%.

Comparison to Earlier Surveys

In the prior survey, the DNR recorded 198 nesting areas. with successful nests in 150 of these locations while 232 eaglets flew off. The count was higher due to counting southwest Georgia where there are around about 100 nests. This year’s survey focused on the northern part of the state which has fewer nests but despite focusing on a smaller area the averages were similar to previous years.

Eagles Over Time

Rising from Near Extinction

The number of bald eagles has greatly increased in recent times both in Georgia and across America as a whole. In fact, in the ’70s, no successful clusters made it. Only one nest was fruitful by ’81, but wildlife protection helped them come back including laws like U.S.’s DDT prohibition started in ’72, habitat improvements brought ahead by Clean Water and Clean Air Acts and several other wildlife programs played crucial roles.

Current Facts

• Georgia has seen over two hundred nesting areas on a yearly basis since 2015.
• The eagles have continued to multiply over the years, but at a slower speed recently.

Survey Approach

The DNR does two helicopter surveys each year breaking the state into five parts. The coastal region known for eagle breeding is checked every year while others are investigated every second year.

Survey Specifics

a) First helicopter trips are made in January and February to find active nests.

b) Follow-up trips are made in March and April keeping checks on the nests’ progress and recording how many eaglets fly off.

Survey Results for 2024

• In Coastal Georgia, there were 83 nesting areas with 68 successful ones producing 99 eaglets.
• In Northern/northwestern Georgia, they found 21 nests with a success ratio of 15 bringing forth 28 eaglets into world.
• In Central / northeastern Georgia, there were 33 observed territories among which successful ones were reported to be on count of 27 giving birth to around about of fortytwo new lives/ baby eagle fledged.

Challenges and Danger from Predators

All was not positive though, as some challenges came up during these studies. Deceased younglings were discovered in two nests sharing predators like horned owls or raccoons as common cause. These kinds of dangers come with the territory when it’s about eagle nesting and survival.

Public Participation,

To increase our understanding network, the public can report any evidence they come across related to hostile eagle territories using an online form available at georgiawildlife.com/bald eagle or by contacting directly through DNR. As per history, reports usually leads to discovery of loads more than dozen new nests every passing year

Regulations by DNR

The DNR is committed to working with landowners to help keep bald eagle nests on private property safe. Though no longer classified as endangered since 2007, eagles still have protection under laws like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and their state legislation.

Backing Conservation

The conservation of Georgia’s bald eagles is funded by public support an example being individuals paying extra when they buy car license plates with pictures of eagles or monarch butterflies. This leads to an extra $19 from each first-time license and another $20 from each yearly renewal going into funds supporting species conservation.

Regarding contributions

If you’d like to support animal protection in Georgia, you can visit georgiawildlife.com/donations for more information on how you can be part of process through donations.

Final Words,

This year’s successful nesting is a reflection on the effective efforts made by the people involved in conserving bald eagles in Georgia. The signs are promising for growth and survival rates in these birds according to the annual reports by DNR.

Now, as required, as we progress further so does requirement for long term monitoring with strong support of local community in order to continue seeing idealistic positive outcome.

Georgia looks forward in maintaining its effort and measures so that success story continues regarding its most vulnerable population.