How Conservation Saved the Bald Eagle from the Brink of Extinction

science, legislation, and public awareness helped bring America’s iconic bird back from the edge of extinction

"Eagle in flight" by Andrew Agresta

In the southeastern part of the Tongass National Forest, the small sea town of Ketchikan, Alaska holds a core childhood memory for me. The familial ties, the amazing scenery, but also the first opportunity to see the bald eagle in the wild. Upon stepping off the plane and exiting the airport, the view of multiple raptors flying through the sky and regally perched in the trees was a sight to behold. Growing up in the 1990s, I read about the significance of this bird, the challenges and hardships faced, and as a national symbol, the role it has in American history and culture.

Long before Europeans settled in the Americas, this bird was seen as a messenger and a connection to the “Great Spirit,” in accordance with a multitude of Native American tribes. These tribes passed down their histories, ideas, and thoughts through symbols and signs, with the eagle being one of the most sacred. Eagle feathers also have been and continue to be used in ceremonial and purification rituals. The feathers are held in as high esteem as the bird itself. Native American headdresses signify honor and various acts of bravery; the bigger the headdress, the more honor bestowed on the adorned. Over the years, United States law has recognized the significance of the eagle and its feathers in Native American tradition, and has worked to respect and preserve this value of Native American culture and heritage. 

In the late 1700s as the colonists were fighting against the British Empire, the bald eagle represented every bit of the strength, freedom, and tenacious nature that the fledgling country of the United States wanted to showcase on the world stage. The young nation embodied all of these qualities of the bird and made it a national symbol in 1782 through the design of the Great Seal of the United States. The bald eagle went on to appear on buildings, currency, and documents amongst the numerous other government-related items. 

Eagles and the Ecosystem

From an ecological standpoint, the bald eagle is a keystone species, which means they are an integral part to the health of its ecosystem. They are an apex predator, sitting atop of the food chain hierarchy. A good example of how this plays out is through the circle of life. Bald eagles feed on fish and the fish feed on marine plants. The marine plants filter the water to prevent the build up of harmful nutrients, known as eutrophication. When eutrophication takes place, the entire ecosystem becomes uninhabitable and stops flourishing. Bald eagles are also scavengers, so they will feed on carrion, and in turn, clean up the environment. Removing these birds would have a significant impact on the health and flow of their habitat. 

Despite the importance of this majestic creature, the threat of extinction became more apparent with westward expansion, habitat destruction, and overexploitation. Hunting regulations in the 1800s were few and far between, and bald eagles were given a tarnished reputation by livestock owners. Populations began to decline with farmers offering bounties for the carcasses as well as the rise of the feather trade in the later part of the century. Feather trade became prominent post-Civil War as the country sought to put the bloodshed and destruction behind it. Bird feathers would adorn women’s hats and would be seen as a societal status. As bird populations dropped, voices for wildlife conservation grew. 

I was recently reminded of a time when I was in a man-made hunting blind in west Tennessee, scanning the skies for ducks, and a bald eagle flew down to a sandbar near the edge of our decoys. The bird snatched up a fish out of the water with its talons and proceeded to have breakfast in front of us. This sighting in the wild was one that we did not take for granted as one of our guides informed us that forty years ago, we would not have seen that bird in the area. 

The Decline of Bald and Golden Eagles

Before the piece of legislation known as the Bald Eagle Protection Act was passed by Congress in 1940, there were several other laws enacted to protect the bald eagle amongst other wildlife. The Lacey Act of 1900 is one of the earliest conservation laws passed that prohibited the possession, transportation, and trade of illegally taken fish, wildlife, and their parts. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is between the United States and Canada, and it gives protection to migratory birds from overhunting. In 1962, the Bald Eagle Protection Act was amended to include golden eagles. This law prevents the killing and possession of eggs, feathers, and nest destruction of both bald and golden eagles. 

During World War II, a pesticide known as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, DDT for short, was developed as one of the first synthetic insecticides to combat the spread of insect-borne diseases in the armed forces. Before this chemical was introduced to the American public, the pesticides that were being used at the time were more toxic. Pesticides were made up of compounds with arsenic and lead, both deadly to humans and animals. The effectiveness and popularity of DDT grew due to the fact that humans and animals could be exposed for short periods of time, and soon it was widely used in the agricultural sector to increase food production. However, the environmental effects would soon be seen by farmers and field biologists alike. 

The chemical itself along with its breakdown components caused the population of numerous birds of prey to plummet across North America and even in Europe. This chemical interference in nature was through the exposure of DDT and passed through the birds in the reproductive process. Bald eagles and other birds of prey would lay their eggs, then when they went to brood, would crush the eggs due to eggshell thinning. The breakage of the eggs contributed to the population decline in bald eagles and their numbers would soon drop below 500 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. 

Farmers for Environmental Conservation 

On the agricultural side, farm workers and the United Farm Workers of America were some of the first to speak out and take action against the usage of DDT and hard pesticides as they were suffering the effects of long-term exposure. Through their work, they were able to get DDT banned from their union contracts, years before the chemical would be banned nationwide. The environmental conservation front was headlined by Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, which was published in 1962. This book is the culmination of years of research by Carson that brought awareness and concerns of pesticide usage to light. Her publication helped spark a grassroots movement that exposed flaws in environmental policy and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. Two years later, the EPA banned DDT from agricultural use and the bald eagle’s comeback from the road to extinction began. 

More legislation was introduced and enacted in the later part of the decade as the Endangered Species Preservation Act was passed in 1966 and amended in 1969. It was then replaced in 1973 with an additional amendment in 1978. Each law and amendment built on the previous endangered species acts, and broadened the protection of the bald eagle population in the lower 48 contiguous states. With the amendment of the Endangered Species Act in 1978, the bald eagle was included on the ESA’s list of endangered species, and this act varied from state to state depending on the health of their raptor population. For the next fifteen years in conjunction with the ban of DDT, the bald eagle population made a resounding turnaround. Birds were being seen nesting in pairs in areas of the country where they had not been sighted in years. The reproductive process was strengthened as eggs were no longer being threatened by chemical interference. 

The Resurgence and Recovery of a National Icon

In 1999, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service proposed that the bald eagle be delisted from the Endangered Species Act as the species’ recovery goal was consistently met year after year. The only drawback was the population of bald eagles in the southwestern area of the country, which remained under threatened status. However, the delisting would not take place until 2007 when the bird was officially declared a recovered species. 

One year before the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list, I had a chance to witness another sighting. I was in the nation’s capital on a family trip, and on that particular day, I was walking on a bridge across the Potomac River when a pair of eagles swooped down from out of the sky, followed the river towards the Washington monument, then disappeared around the bend. Being witness to that moment in Washington D.C. was a remarkable experience that I will never forget.

Bald eagles in their entirety are still protected under federal law. Various threats still plague this raptor, but it is safe to say, the bald eagle will not be going anywhere anytime soon, not even from my driveway in Georgia where the local nesting pair circles my neighborhood. What used to be a rare occurrence is now becoming more common as these creatures expand their natural habitat and establish new footholds. The bald eagle is just as an integral part of our nation’s history as it is in the natural ecosystem. The efforts made by conservationists, farm workers, lawmakers, and ordinary citizens in the middle of the 20th century helped make the bald eagle a true American conservation success. 

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About the Author

Based in Middle Georgia, Hayden Martin is an adaptive creative and storyteller who invites people from all walks of life to immerse themselves in the outdoors. He thrives most when building lasting relationships in the duck blind, capturing meaningful experiences through a lens, and contributing to the outdoors lifestyle through written expression. Hayden has worked in live entertainment, sports journalism, and outdoor media industries; his creative work can be found in both digital and print publications including Wildfowl Magazine, Split Reed, Palomino County, and Houston Home Journal.