I pulled into the small dirt parking lot at the reservoir to see what ducks were hanging around the dam. The water by the dam does not freeze, and there is always a good variety of waterfowl there all winter.

As I stepped out of the car, I noticed two large birds perched in a tree along the shoreline. I knew immediately they were much too large to be hawks. They must be eagles. Sure enough, it was one adult and one immature bald eagle. It takes eagles four or five years to get their signature white heads and tails. Immature eagles are, however, just as large and impressive as adults.

Of course, I was thrilled to see the bald eagle. However, I was not surprised. Bald eagle sightings have become increasingly common over the last several years as the population continues to rise.

The bald eagle’s recovery is one of the best conservation stories of the last several decades. The osprey recovery is equally exciting.

To put the recovery of the bald eagle in perspective, consider the following numbers. Before 1989, there were no nesting bald eagles in New Hampshire, and hadn’t been for more than 40 years. After the first bald eagle nest was discovered in 1989 at Umbagog Lake, it wasn’t until 1998 that the second one was discovered, this time at Nubanusit Lake in southwest New Hampshire. 

Gen Zers may disagree, but that wasn’t really that long ago. In fact, I vividly remember working as a sports and outdoor writer for The Sentinel when we heard about the Nubanusit eagles. Photographer Steve Hooper and I rushed to the car, stopped at my apartment to grab my canoe and headed to the lake. We found the nest immediately and observed the nesting activity.

Hoop got some terrific photos, and I wrote the story. It was front-page news. 

Eagles have long been knocked off the front page, which is great news. It means that there are so many eagles now that the discovery of a nest, while certainly still reason to celebrate, is no longer front-page news.

Now for some more startlingly positive numbers. While New Hampshire had two nesting eagle pairs in 1998, there are now more than 100 from all parts of the state. The numbers continue to grow. According to the Audubon Society, the number of territorial pairs in the state increased 18 percent from 2022 to 2023. That’s about 20 additional territorial pairs in one recent year alone.

Several New Hampshire lakes have multiple eagles nesting there. Lake Winnipesaukee leads the way with 11 nesting pairs. 

Other New England states mirror this success. Connecticut, for instance, also has about 100 nesting pairs, which is up exponentially from a few decades ago.

The recovery of the bald eagle and osprey is worth celebrating not only because birdwatchers get to see these amazing birds more often, but also because it’s a sign of a healthy environment. Birds of prey are indicator species, meaning if they thrive the overall environment is doing well. They are at the top of the food chain and all the links leading up to them have to be healthy for them to thrive. 

The eagle’s recovery may be attributed to many factors. Banning harmful pesticides, along with tenacious conservation efforts and policies that protect these birds, top the list. I also believe an overall change in attitude and recognition of the importance of a clean, healthy environment play a role as well. 

Environmental challenges persist, of course. The U.S. State of the Birds 2025 report, which I commented on in last week’s column, points to climate change as a major factor in the decline of many bird species. While challenges remain and work remains to be done, it’s also nice to recognize and appreciate the success stories as well.