Once-Endangered American Bald Eagle no longer in danger

The bald eagles, which were once termed as an endangered species, continue to exhibit increasing numbers eight years after they were removed from the list of endangered species list in 2007, Tech Times reports.

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) has documented in its 2015 New Jersey Bald Eagle Project Report the current status of bald eagle nesting pairs, active nests and nests productivity in New Jersey.

"With 161 pairs of bald eagles this past year - up from just a single nest in the early 1980s - the dramatic ongoing recovery of bald eagles across the northeast continues to inspire so many of us," said David Wheeler, Conserve Wildlife Foundation Executive Director, according to NJ.

"The thrill of seeing a bald eagle fly across the sky is unparalleled. This report captures how these eagles are continuing their All-American return."

The nesting pairs have increased to 23 by the year 2000, 48 by 2005 and 82 by 2010.

The report was compiled in collaboration with CWF biologists, some volunteers and members of the Division of Fish and Wildlife at New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection.

For the report, the CWF monitored 191 nest sites during the nesting season.

Out of the 191 nest sites, 150 had eggs and thus were considered active. The productivity rate for each active nest was 1.33 offsprings, which meant 199 young eagles were produced in 122 nests or 81 percent of the 150 nests monitored.

The area where the bald eagles are highly dominant remains to be Delaware Bay.

"In addition to our fellow scientists in New Jersey and nearby states, I'd like to thank the wonderful eagle project volunteers who make keeping track of all these nests possible ", said CWF eagle biologist Larissa Smith, according to NJ.

"The state's eagle population would not be thriving without the efforts of the dedicated eagle volunteers who observe nests, report sightings and help protect critical habitat," the CWF wrote in its report.

The drastic reduction in the number of bald eagles in the 1970s was attributed to the use of the pesticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT).

As a result, in 1972, authorities banned the use of DDT. The ban was further strengthened with the efforts from the Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) that led to the increase in the population of the bald eagles little by little.