Ohio's bald eagles are thriving decades after near-extinction

Ohio's bald eagle population rose from just four nesting pairs in 1979 to 964 confirmed nests in 2025, aided by the 1972 DDT ban and coordinated conservation efforts.

Ohio's bald eagles have made a notable recovery, and Jan. 10 is National Save the Eagles Day, a time to recognize those efforts. Bald eagles favor Ohio's wetlands, rivers and lakes. By 1979, only four nesting pairs remained in the state as the species declined nationwide. Conservation measures, including the 1972 ban on DDT and coordinated work by organizations, contributed to the birds' gradual comeback. Key facts: - Ohio had just four nesting pairs in 1979. - Widespread DDT use was linked to eggshell thinning; DDT was largely banned in 1972. - Agencies and institutions such as the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History raised eagles in captivity, coordinated volunteers and tracked nesting patterns. - Ohio recorded 964 confirmed nests in 2025, a 36% increase from 2020. - Local nests, including a Dublin Road nest observed since 2018, have drawn public interest. - The 2019 Cornell "3 Billion Birds" study is cited as a reminder that not all bird species are experiencing similar recoveries. Summary: The rebound of Ohio's bald eagles illustrates how policy changes and coordinated conservation work can support species recovery. Monitoring of nests, captive-rearing efforts and volunteer coordination remain part of ongoing work to track the population and sustain those gains.