We’ve got some good news for you! For this first time in at least forty years, nesting Bald Eagles have been found in every New Jersey county. Bald Eagles have been a symbol of America since 1782 and they thrived in our country for over a century. By the 1960s, their numbers had plummeted.

The majestic birds began to die off as the chemical pesticide DDT prevented them from reproducing.
Andy Morffew/Wikipedia
DDT was banned in 1972 but the chemical's effects lasted for generations.
Peter K. Burian/Wikipedia
The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973, granting Bald Eagles additional protections. While the 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act made it illegal to kill or possess Bald Eagles and their eggs, their nests and habitats were now protected.
Peter K. Burian/Wikipedia

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The banning of DDT and the preservation of Bald Eagle habitats worked! In 1963, there were only an estimated 417 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles in the contiguous United States. That number is now near 15,000.
Peter K. Burian/Wikipedia
Bald Eagles were taken off the endangered species list in 2007.
NPSPhoto, Lori Oberhofner/Wikipedia
Following the national trend, nesting pairs are also on the rise in New Jersey.
Matthew Straubmuller/Flickr
In 1973, there was only one known nesting pair of Bald Eagles in New Jersey, based in Cumberland County. Today, for the first time since Bald Eagles have been monitored in New Jersey (four decades), nesting pairs have been documented in all 21 New Jersey counties. There are more than 220 total nesting pairs, 30 more than last year. While nests are located across the state, you can find most Bald Eagles in New Jersey along the Delaware River in Salem and Cumberland Counties.

If you see a Bald Eagle in New Jersey, you know what to do! Admire it from afar, do not disturb the bird or its surroundings, and take a picture if you can!

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