Timiskaming Birds Forum

Hello ppl,

             Yesterday as I was about to cross over Englehart River on Hwy 11, I saw an bald eagle in full adult plumage flying south/east. Not believing in what I had saw, I went home to do some "googling". I was put back when I read that there are 31 nesting pairs in Northern Ontario(still wondering if this info. is reliable).

That number seems extremely low!  I'm positive that there are way more than that.  That number even seems low for about 45 years ago when they were at their all time low.  What was the web site that you got this information from?

In 1985, according to a study by Grier, there were approximately 500 - 1000 PAIRS of Bald Eagles nesting in North Western Ontario alone.  And the population has been steadily increasing since the early 1970's to present.  According to the 2007 Breeding Bird Atlas, the minimum number of documented active Bald Eagle nests in Ontario rose from 719 to 1,193 between 1990 and 1998, an increase of 65% in less than a decade.  It is clear that the Bald Eagle is still increasing in numbers on Ontario.

I found a site that quotes that number.  It is a site from the Royal Ontario Museum, and is a reliable source of information.  It can be viewed at this URL: http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&lang=&id=107

The quotation reads "In Ontario, 31 active nests are present in the southwest, while northern populations are healthier."  Note that this says in the southwest part of the province only, where numbers have always been low.  This is the most highly developed part of the province, and habitat for this species is at a premium there.  Populations are very healthy in the north, and it is well established as a top predator.  Note also that the ROM site correctly states that this species is only listed as endangered in southern Ontario.  In Northern Ontario, it is still listed as a "Species of Special Concern", but even that status will probably be dropped very soon.

Hi,

I would be very interested to find out how many we have in North Eastern Ontario.

In Gowganda and area we see them often. From my deck , the resident pair are seen on a daily bases if you are watching for them. The other day sitting on my swing one of them flew past me very low and close.

On Firth lake, about 5 KM from me there are a resident pair...and many of the prospectors tell me of their sightings.

Gert

Here on my side, there are at least 21 known nesting site.  I bet there's a lot more to find.

Your 21 known nesting sites are spread over how large an area?

I would say about 140 X 160 km area.  There are so many lakes