An unexpected guest arrived at Piney Point Beach on Sunday to take a break from the harassment of two ospreys. When an adult, a telltale sign of this creature is their sharp claws, pointed beak, and white head. If you guessed a bald eagle, you are correct! The eagle that landed on the beach was a juvenile, meaning that it had not grown into its adult feathers. Juvenile eagles are identified as having all brown feathers on their plumage, where they start to grow their famous “bald head” when they are roughly between 2-3 years of age.
Although bald eagles were not long ago revered for their rarity, conservation efforts have made them no longer on the endangered species list as of 2007. Luckily, the Tri-Town has been able to house a couple of pairs throughout the years on local trails, such as White Eagle Parcel trail in 2025.
The reason bald eagles initially became endangered was due to a chemical called DDT, which was created in the late 1930s to help reduce insect-induced illnesses during WW2; similar to why osprey went endangered. DDT led to eagle and osprey eggshells becoming too thin, causing them to break prematurely. For osprey and eagles, this caused an enormous drop in population, leading to them being added to the endangered species list in 1967. Luckily for our National Bird, DDT was banned in 1972 by the EPA, and population numbers slowly began to recover.
How can you help with eagle conservation you may ask? To start, using lead-free ammunition and fishing tackle can help, mainly opting for copper and steel alternatives. Adopting a “no trace” policy can also further aid in conservation efforts, promoting an effort to plan ahead and taking trash out according: i.e., the area should look the same when you leave as when you got there. Overall, taking the initiative and preventing litter and waste can help conservation for all aspects of wildlife. Being considerate of wildlife, such as observing from a distance, can help nurture and promote the long-term health of wildlife populations and their habitats.
As of today, bald eagles now have a “least concern” level of conservation, with their population numbers having recovered to well over 300,000 where there had once been possibly less than 1,000.
Creature Feature
By Bailey Sweet