In 1982, New Jersey had only one remaining active Bald Eagle nest – the Bear Swamp Nest. There were once at least 20 but the use of the pesticide DDT and other environmental factors wiped out much of the species between 1950 and 1972 when DDT was banned.  Unfortunately, the one remaining nest was not producing young. This meant the inevitable extinction of the species in our state, until…

After six consecutive years of the nest producing no offspring, biologists removed eggs from the nest and incubated them in the lab...under chickens!
Steven Lilley/Flickr
And it worked! The DDT exposure led to thinning of the eggshells and they would crack under an eagle's weight...but not a chicken's.
Photo Credit: Kaity M.
After 10 days, the chicks were returned to their nest. Happily, they were welcomed and cared for by the adult eagles.
272447/Pixabay
This foster system continued until 1989 when the new generation of eagles (those who had hatched under the chickens) began nesting. The shells were strong enough to sustain an eagle's weight.
272447/Pixabay

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However, one nest was not enough. State biologists also brought in 60 Bald Eagles born in captivity (mostly from Canada) over a period of 8 years.
Jerry McFarland/Flickr
In 1988, a second Bald Eagle nest in New Jersey was identified. Since then, 211 nests have been identified in the Garden State. 190 nests were documented as having eggs!
Jerry McFarland/Flickr
Bald Eagles are proven indicators of a healthy environment and we've made incredible progress over the years. However, the breeding population still has endangered species status in New Jersey.
Nicole Beaulac/Flickr
The cleaner our air and water, the more the species will thrive. It is also important not to disturb their nests - if encroached upon, they will quickly abandon their homes, which can take months or even years to build. Over time, some nests can reach 10 feet across and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
Peter K. Burien/Wikipedia

Have you seen a Bald Eagle in New Jersey? Duke Farms in Hillsborough is a great place to spot them. They even have an Eagle Cam that you can enjoy from home, but it was downed during a storm and, to avoid disturbing the birds, it will not be replaced until the next nesting season. At the start of spring, there were two chicks in the nest!

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