Bald Eagle

New Jersey's bald eagle population continued to grow during the 1995 nesting season as 11 pairs nested. Nine of the pairs were successful at raising 20 young. This represents the most confirmed nesting pairs and the highest productivity rate(1.82 young/active nest) in the state since the pre-DDT era several decades ago. The production rate is well above the minimum necessary to sustain the population.

During the 1995 season active eagle nests occurred at Bear Swamp, Belleplain State Forest, Cohansey River, Mannington Meadow, Newport, Maurice River, Raccoon Creek/Gibbstown, Stow Creek, Union Lake, Wading River and Round Valley Reservoir. All of the nests, with the exception of the Round Valley nest, are located within the Inner and Outer Coastal Plain of South Jersey.

Bald eagles are extremely sensitive to disturbance, and will abandon their nest sites if people or mechanical disturbances occur too close to the nest. ENSP biologists and nest-watch volunteers work continuously throughout the nesting season to insure nests are protected. Most nests (7) occur on private land, where the landowners are the primary protectors of nest sites and assist biologists in this regard. On private lands that are farmed, farming activities usually proceed without interruption near eagle nests. People watching eagles should generally watch from a distance to avoid disturbing the birds and causing eagles to leave the area.

The nests at Mannington (Salem County) and Raccoon Creek/Gibbstown (Gloucester County) failed for the eighth and fourth consecutive years, respectively. The Gibbstown nest only produced young during its first season in 1991. This year the initial nest was blown out of the tree during a spring storm and the pair was forced to relocate its nest.

The state's most productive nest award goes to the Stow Creek pair. This pair has produced three young in three of the past four seasons. The Union Lake pair also produced three young during the 1995 nesting season. Of the 20 young produced this season, ENSP biologists were able to band and take blood samples from 16. The blood samples are being used for contaminant analysis.