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Bald Eagle Restoration Program 1986-2011
Bald Eagles Return to the Central Coast

In 2007, the Bald Eagle was taken off the endangered species list - an amazing success story! By protecting its habitat we can ensure its long-term survival without the assistance of the Endangered Species Act. Click image to enlarge.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Breeding Bald Eagles were absent for most of the last century in the Central California Coast region after the devastating effects of DDT brought the bird to near extinction. The Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS), a 501(c) 3 non-profit, in cooperation with United States Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game, released 70 juvenile Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at their private wildlife sanctuary located in Big Sur, California from 1986-1994 and 1999-2000 with a goal of establishing a self-sustaining population in central California that would consist of at least four breeding pairs.

Due to the support of members, private foundations, and corporations, we were successful. After a nearly 60-year absence, in 1993, VWS recorded the first successful Bald Eagle nest in Central California, the first in this area since 1933. VWS initiated nest surveys in 1993 with the help of staff and volunteers.  The surveys entailed visiting Bald Eagle nest sites between one and four times per year, if possible, to determine nest success per territory (number of fledglings) and to locate new territories.  In summary, we confirmed that 21 territories were occupied in 2011, 19 of which produced a total of 36 young (Table 1, Figure 1).

Click to view an expanded version of this spreadsheet

Figure 1.  Total number of Bald Eagles fledged in central California from 1993-2011

Within the California Central Coast Region, the following counties now have breeding bald eagles: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Marin, Monterey, San Benito and San Luis Obispo (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Overview map of Bald Eagle Nests in Central California
Click Here to view large version of this map

Thanks to the support of our sponsors and volunteers, the bald eagle is once again thriving in the central coast.

Robert Redford wrote on March 20, 1996:
“The Ventana Wilderness [Wildlife] Society exemplifies a public/private partnership at its best. With a highly inclusive approach to their work, they involve the public as well as draw on the expertise and resources provided by both relevant government agencies and other environmental organizations. Thus, in less than a decade they have succeeded in not only introducing many to the wonders of our natural world and the challenges facing it, but have actually accomplished the restoration of wildlife and rehabilitation of habitat to address those challenges…I encourage those of you considering support of this program to look at the track record and sound management of this organization and to do what you can to help them. I believe it is a sound and important investment.”

Channel Island Bald Eagle nest camera

Bald Eagle nest in Iowa