South Carolina ES

Bald Eagle Information

As of August 8, 2007, the Bald eagle has been removed from the List of Threatened and Endangered Species and will no longer be protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA); however, it remains protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).  Under BGEPA, the birds have habitat management guidelines similar to the previous guidelines under ESA.  The main difference is the protective buffers around the Bald eagle nest tree are smaller than they were under ESA.  The continued protection of Bald eagle habitat and nesting territories is important because the nesting territories can last for decades.  If something happens to the eagles’ nest tree (i.e., struck by lightning or loss of a limb that supports the nest), then they need to be able to find another suitable nest tree within their territory.  Bald eagles mate for life, but if one of the birds dies, the remaining mate will recruit in a new mate and the territory will continue to be occupied.  In South Carolina, Bald eagles nest October 1 through May 15.  Our state had only 13 pairs of Bald eagles before the birds were protected under the ESA, but South Carolina currently has 228 nesting Bald eagle pairs that produced 313 chicks during the 2007 nesting season (Tom Murphy, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources unpublished data).    

For more information on these majestic birds and to find out how you can help continue to protect them, go to

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/BaldEagle.htm

 

Helpful Links:

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/es/baldeagle/

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/baldeagle/index.htm