Around New England

Connecticut Seeing Bald Eagle Population Rise

January 8, 2020

Connecticut’s bald eagle population is on the rise.

In 2019, the state saw a steady rise in several categories, according to The Connecticut Post. The number of active nests reached 64. The number of successful nests reached 45. Plus, the number of chicks was 81.

The previous highest yearly numbers recorded in the state were 55 active territories, 38 successful nests, and 68 chicks.

Over the past decade, the number of bald eagle territories in Connecticut has more than tripled.

Connecticut towns which had bald eagle nests in 2019 include:  Greenwich, Darien, Norwalk, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe, Shelton, Southbury, Bridgewater, Sherman, Kent, Litchfield, and Middlebury. Cities, including Middletown, New Haven, and Bridgeport also made the list.

One major reason for the bald eagle’s rise is the establishment of nesting territories across the state in 1992. They exist in every county in the state.

In Connecticut Wildlife magazine, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Brian Hess, spoke about the topic, saying,  “Managing information on a rapidly growing population is challenging, and without the dedicated observations of knowledgeable and passionate volunteers statewide it would be virtually impossible.”

“As the eagle population continues to grow, struggling with the number of nests to monitor is a wonderful problem to have,” he added.