View bald eagles, other species throughout the state

LINCOLN, NEB. (July 5, 2007)—With the bald eagle’s recent removal from the federal Endangered Species Act, Nebraska’s birders can celebrate by viewing the nation’s symbol in its natural habitat across the state.

Most bald eagles are in nesting sites right now, said Tom Tabor, eco-tourism development consultant for Nebraska Tourism, but they can still be observed from afar at designated viewing spots. There are several places where active eagle nests can be seen. Viewers should always use spotting scopes and view from a distance of 100 yards or more.

Eagle nest sites in western Nebraska can be found in Bayard, where a nest is visible from Highway 26, and also in the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, on the north side of Crane Lake. Calamus Reservoir, in central Nebraska, offers some eagle watching sites, as do selected spots in Odessa, Deweese and in the Arcadia Diversion Dam Wildlife Management Area. In northern Nebraska, see the birds at Niobrara State Park and just southeast of Pierce. In eastern Nebraska, eagles nest at Schramm State Park and near Rogers, along Highway 30.

Today there are nearly 10,000 bald eagles in the contiguous 48 states, compared to a documented 417 in 1963 when the bird was on the verge of extinction everywhere except in Alaska and Canada, where it has continued to thrive. The eagle’s decline came during years when the bird was targeted by hunters. It later fell victim to the pesticide DDT. The bald eagle will still be protected by state statutes and a federal law passed by Congress in 1940 that makes it illegal to kill a bald eagle.

For more information on eagle viewing, visit www.visitnebraska.org or www.nebraskabirdingtrails.com. 

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sarah Baker at 402-471-3797, 800-228-4307, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tom Tabor at 402-471-7755, 800-228-4307, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it