About

Bald Eagle Restoration Project

Bald eagles were present on all eight California Channel Islands until their decline and disappearance by 1960, which was driven by long-term exposure to high levels of the synthetic pesticide, DDT. Between 1947 and 1961, large amounts of DDT contaminated sludge was dumped offshore of Catalina Island.  In 1980, Institute for Wildlife Studies initiated its first project: reintroducing bald eagles to Catalina Island. From 1980 to 1986, wild birds were collected from nests in the Pacific Northwest and released onto Catalina Island from hack towers. Breeding pairs formed and the first eggs were laid in 1987, but broke soon after. Eggshells from the failed nests were collected for contaminant analysis, which indicated that DDT contamination was the cause of nest failure.

From 1989 to 2009, wildlife biologists with the Bald Eagle Restoration Project maintained the reintroduced Catalina population through manipulations of eggs and chicks at nest sites. Fragile eggs laid by the DDE-affected birds were removed from wild nests and replaced with decoy eggs. The adult eagles continued to incubate the decoy eggs while the real eggs were relocated and artificially incubated at our incubation facility on Catalina Island. Chicks that hatched from the artificially incubated eggs and chicks produced by captive adults at the Avian Conservation Center (San Francisco Zoo) or by wild birds, were then fostered back into the nests. Reintroduction efforts were expanded to Channel Islands National Park in 2002, where project biologists released an additional 61 juvenile bald eagles over 5 years. In 2006, IWS researchers observed the first successful natural nest hatching since 1950 on Santa Cruz Island. Since then, the bald eagle population on the California Channel Islands has continued to grow, with an estimated population of 60 bald eagles across five islands in 2022, including 23 breeding pairs.

Reintroduction and careful monitoring led to the delisting of the bald eagle from the Endangered Species Act in 2007, though it remains federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act, and listed as “Threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act. Today, the Bald Eagle Restoration Program monitors eagles on the Channel Islands to detect and remedy any future population declines. Nest monitoring helps us to understand reasons behind individual nest successes and contributes to invaluable long-term studies. Challenges remain, with some pairs continuing to have failed nests. Ongoing monitoring, livestreams, and social media outreach increase public awareness and support of programs that protect bald eagles’ ongoing recovery.

Learn more about past bald eagle projects here.

Watch: Former Program Director, Dr. Peter Sharpe, fosters two young eaglets into the Twin Rocks nest on Catalina Island, California, USA.

Publications & Reports

Publications

  • Newsome, S.D., P.W. Collins, and P.B. Sharpe. 2015. Foraging ecology of a reintroduced population of breeding Bald Eagles on the Channel Islands, California, USA, inferred from prey remains and stable isotope analysis. The Condor. 117:396–413. HTTP

  • Pagel, J. E., P. B. Sharpe, D. K. Garcelon, A. E. Little, S. K. Taylor, K. R. Faulkner, and C. S. Gorbics. 2012. Exposure of bald eagles to lead on the Northern Channel Islands, California. Journal of Raptor Research, 46(2):168-176. HTTP

  • Hudgens, B.R., T.J. Coonan, K.R. Faulkner, and D.K. Garcelon. 2011. Ghost prey and missing conflicts: Reinterpreting the implications of bald eagle diet composition on the California Channel Islands.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. PDF

  • McKinney, M., L. Cesh, J.E. Elliott, T.D. Williams, D.K. Garcelon, and R.J. Letcher. 2006.  Brominated flame retardants and halogenated phenolic compounds in North American west coast bald eaglet (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) plasma. Environmental Science and Technology 40:6275-6281. PDF

  • Dooley, J. A., P. B. Sharpe, and D. K. Garcelon. 2005. Movements, foraging, and survival of bald eagles reintroduced on the Northern Channel Islands, California. Pages 313-322 in Garcelon, D. K. and C. A. Schwemm (eds). Proceedings of the Sixth California Islands Symposium, Ventura, California, December 1-3, 2003. National Park Service Technical Publication CHIS-05-01, Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California. 

  • Sharpe, P. B., and D. K. Garcelon. 2005. Restoring and monitoring bald eagles in southern California: the legacy of DDT. Pages 323-330 in Garcelon, D. K. and C. A. Schwemm (eds). Proceedings of the Sixth California Islands Symposium, Ventura, California, December 1-3, 2003. National Park Service Technical Publication CHIS-05-01, Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California.

  • Roemer, G.W., T.J. Coonan, D.K. Garcelon,  J. Bascompte, and Laughrin, L. 2001. Feral pigs facilitate hyperpredation by golden eagles and indirectly cause the decline of the island fox. Animal Conservation, vol. 4, no. 4, 307–318.

  • Garcelon, D.K. and N.J. Thomas. 1997. DDE poisoning in an adult bald eagle. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 33:299–303. 

  • Perkins, D.W., D.K. Phillips, and D.K. Garcelon. 1996. Predation of a bald eagle nestling by a red-tailed hawk. Journal of Raptor Research 30:249. 

  • Garcelon, D.K., G.L. Slater, C.D. Danilson, and R.C. Helm. 1995. Cooperative nesting by a trio of bald eagles. Journal of Raptor Research 29:210–213. 

  • Jenkins, M., R.M. Jurek, D.K. Garcelon, R. Mesta, W.G. Hunt, D.E. Driscoll, and R.W. Risebrough. 1994. DDE contamination and population parameters of the bald eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus in California and Arizona, USA. In: Proceedings of the Fourth World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls, Berlin. pp 751–756. 

  • Garcelon, D.K. 1990. Observations of aggressive interactions by bald eagles of known age and sex. The Condor 92:532–534. PDF

  • Garcelon, D.K. and G.W. Roemer. 1990. The reintroduction of bald eagles on Santa Catalina Island. Natural Sciences of Orange County, Volume 3. Natural History Foundation of Orange County, Newport Beach, California. 

  • Garcelon, D.K., R.W. Risebrough, W.M. Jarman, A.B. Chartrand, and E.E. Littrell. 1989. Accumulation of DDE by bald eagles reintroduced to Santa Catalina Island in Southern California. In: Proceedings of the Third World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls, Israel. pp 491–494.

  • Garcelon, D.K., M. Martell, P. Redig and L. Buoen. 1985. Morphometric, karyotypic, and laparoscopic techniques for determining sex in bald eagles. Journal of Wildlife Management 49(3): 595–599. PDF

Technical Reports

  • Sharpe, P. B.. 2025. Bald Eagle Research on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2024. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Channel Islands National Park. 19 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.B., and A. Schenk. 2023. Bald Eagle Research on the California Channel Islands January — December 2023. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Channel Islands National Park. 27 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B.. 2022. Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Research on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2022. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 29 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.. 2022. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2022. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 41 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B.. 2021. Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Research on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2021. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 25 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.. 2021. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2021. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 12 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B.. 2020. Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Research on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2020. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 19 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.. 2020. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2020. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 19 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. and N. Melling. 2019. Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Research on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2019. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 26 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. and N. Melling. 2019. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2019. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 34 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. and N. Melling. 2019. Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Research on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2018. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 23 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. and N. Melling. 2019. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2018. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 35 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2018. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2017, 16th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 21 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2018. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2017. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 44 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2017. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2016, 15th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 23 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2017. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2016. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 58 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2016. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2015, 14th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 23 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2016. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2015. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 52 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2015. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2014, 13th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 25 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2015. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2014. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 58 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2014. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2013, 12th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 25 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2014. Peregrine falcon monitoring on the California Channel Islands, California, 2013. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 60 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2013. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2012, 11th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 27 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2012. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2011, 10th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 27 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2011. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2010, 9th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 30 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2010. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2009, 8th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 25 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2009. Bald Eagle Restoration on the California Channel Islands, January - December 2008, 7th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 31 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2008. Bald Eagle Restoration on the Northern Channel Islands, California, January - December 2007, 6th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 24 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2008. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2007. Contract report submitted to the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 15 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2007. Bald Eagle Restoration on the Northern Channel Islands, California, January - December 2006, 5th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 50 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2007. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2006. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata California for Fish and Wildlife Service Office, Carlsbad, California. 15 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2006. Bald Eagle Restoration on the Northern Channel Islands, California, January - December 2005, 4th Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 48 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. 2006. Population Status and Golden Eagle Removal Efforts on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands 2005-2006. Report to The Nature Conservancy. 22 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2006. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2005. Contract report submitted to the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 27 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B., J. Dooley, and D. K. Garcelon. 2005. Bald Eagle Restoration on the Northern Channel Islands, California, January - December 2004, 3rd Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California for National Park Service, Ventura, California. 51 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.B., J. Dooley, and D.K. Garcelon. 2004. Bald Eagle restoration on the Northern Channel Islands, California, May 2003-December 2003. 2nd annual report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, CA, for National Park Service, Ventura, CA. 45 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.B., J. Dooley, and D.K. Garcelon. 2003. Bald Eagle restoration on the Northern Channel Islands, California, May 2002-April 2003. 1st annual report. Unpublished report prepared by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, CA, for National Park Service, Ventura, CA. 30 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.B. 2003. Restoration and management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2003. Unpublished report by Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, CA, for Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 23 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P.B. 2002. Restoration and management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2002. Unpublished report by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, CA, for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento, CA. 26 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B. 2001. Restoration of Osprey on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2001. Report submitted to the California Department of Fish and Game. 7 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B., and J. Dooley. 2001. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2001. Contract report submitted to the Damage Assessment Branch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. 27 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B., and D. K. Garcelon. 2000. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 2000. Contract report submitted to the Damage Assessment Branch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. 26 pp. PDF

  • Valoppi, L, D. Welsh, D. Glaser, P. Sharpe, D. Garcelon, and H. Carter. 2000. Final predictive ecological risk assessment for the potential reintroduction of bald eagles to the Northern Channel Islands. Report to the Southern California Damage Assessment Trustee Council. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento, CA. 103 pp.

  • Sharpe, P. B., and D. K. Garcelon. 2000. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 1999. Contract report submitted to the Damage Assessment Branch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. 25 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B., and D. K. Garcelon. 1999. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 1998. Contract report submitted to the Damage Assessment Branch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. 29 pp. PDF

  • Sharpe, P. B., and D. K. Garcelon. 1998. Restoration and Management of Bald Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California, 1997. Contract report submitted to the Damage Assessment Branch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. 26 pp. PDF

  • Garcelon, D. K., and P. B. Sharpe. 1998. Research protocol to aid in the recovery of the San Clemente loggerhead shrike. Contract report submitted to the Southwest Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, San Diego, CA. 69 pp.

  • Sharpe, P. B., R. L. Schooley, and B. Van Horne. 1994. Behavior of Townsend's ground squirrels in different habitat types. Pages 188-199 in K. Steenhof, ed. Snake River Birds of Prey Area Research and Monitoring, Annual Report. U.S. Dept. Interior, Bureau Land Management, Boise, ID.

  • Sharpe, P. B., and B. Van Horne. 1993. Behavior of Townsend's ground squirrels in different habitat types. Pages 209-225 in K. Steenhof, ed. Snake River Birds of Prey Area Research and Monitoring, Annual Report. U.S. Dept. Interior, Bureau Land Management, Boise, ID.

  • Van Horne, B., R. L. Schooley, P. B. Sharpe, J. G. Corn, K. P. Burnham, G. S. Olson, P. G. Wilber, and D. W. Duszynski. 1992. Habitat relationships of Townsend's ground squirrels. Pages 166-246 in K. Steenhof, ed. Snake River Birds of Prey Area Research and Monitoring, Annual Report. U.S. Dept. Interior, Bureau Land Management, Boise, ID.

  • Sharpe, P. B., B. Van Horne, and E. C. Atkinson. 1991. Preliminary report on the behavior of Spermophilus townsendii in different habitat types. Pages 143-149 in K. Steenhof, ed. Snake River Birds of Prey Area Research and Monitoring, Annual Report. U.S. Dept. Interior, Bureau Land Management, Boise, ID.

Literature Cited

  • Chartrand, A. B., S. Moy, A. N. Safford, T. Yoshimura, and L. A. Schinazi. 1985. Ocean dumping under Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board permit: A review of past practices, potential adverse impact and recommendations for future action. California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, March 1985 47 p.

  • Gress, F., R. W. Risebrough, D. W. Anderson, L. F. Kiff, and J. R. Jehl, Jr. 1973. Reproductive failures of double-crested cormorants in southern California and Baja California. Wilson Bulletin 85:197-208.

  • Kiff, L. F. 1980. Historical changes in resident populations of California islands raptors. Pages 651-673 in D. M. Power (ed.), The California islands: Proceedings of a multidisciplinary symposium. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA.

  • Risebrough, R. W., F. C. Sibley, and M. N. Kirven. 1971. Reproductive failure of the brown pelican on Anacapa Island in 1969. American Birds 25:8-9