Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald eagles were historically present on all eight California Channel Islands, but by 1960, exposure to the pesticide DDT led to their decline and disappearance. In 1980, wildlife biologists with the Institute for Wildlife Studies initiated the Bald Eagle Restoration Project, a reintroduction and management effort that has spanned 45 years and counting. Thanks to these efforts, bald eagles can once again be seen soaring along island coastlines and nesting on cliffs and in treetops across the archipelago. Learn more about the history and achievements of our Bald Eagle Restoration Project here.

Today, the Bald Eagle Restoration Project 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, social media outreach, and educational programming increase public awareness and support of programs that protect bald eagles’ ongoing recovery.

Support the Bald Eagle Restoration Project

We are pursuing new funding sources to continue our bald eagle monitoring and conservation efforts. Learn more about how you can support this work below.