Did you know that the Big Sur Condor Sanctuary used to be the site of a Ventana Wildlife Society eagle release tower? Between 1986 and 1994 VWS biologists successfully restored a breeding population of bald eagles to the Central Coast of California.
Once an endangered species, Bald Eagles were delisted in 2007
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Bald Eagles are breeding once again in the Central California Coast Region, thanks to a successful re-introduction project conducted by Ventana Wildlife Society which was supported by members, private foundations and corporations and permitted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game. Breeding Bald Eagles were absent for most of the last century in Central California after the devastating effects of DDT brought the bird to near extinction. Once the DDT ban paved the way for recovery, we set about reintroducing Bald Eagles in Central California. From 1986-2000, we released 70 juvenile Bald Eagles at our private wildlife sanctuary located in Big Sur, CA. Our goal was establishing a self-sustaining population in Central California that would consist of at least four breeding pairs. At last count, we found 30 nesting territories in the region and the wild population is thriving.
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Did you know?
Bald Eagles are the fastest growing bird in North America? Chicks grow on average of 6 oz per day and reach the size of their adult parents in just 10 to 13 weeks in age, (the age range for fledging - to leave the nest). Females are much larger than the males so the males leave the nest earlier than the females do. Check out this field guide to see the rapid changes chicks undergo in such a short time.
publications
Sorenson, K. J., L. J. Burnett, and M. M. Stake. 2017. Restoring a Bald Eagle
breeding population in central California and monitoring 25 years of regional population
growth. Journal of Raptor Research 51:145-152.
breeding population in central California and monitoring 25 years of regional population
growth. Journal of Raptor Research 51:145-152.
technical reports
025 Thorngate, N. 2004. Bald Eagle Management Plan. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #025 to California Army National Guard, Camp Roberts, Big Sur, CA.
030 Thorngate, N. 2005. Bald Eagle Monitoring at Camp Roberts California Army National Guard Training Facility. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #030 to California Army National Guard, Camp Roberts, Big Sur, CA.
038 Thorngate, N. 2006. Bald Eagle Monitoring at Camp Roberts California Army National Guard Training Facility, 2006. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #038 to California Army National Guard, Camp Roberts, Big Sur, CA.
044 Burnett, J. and K.J. Sorenson. 2007. Ventana Wildlife Society’s Bald Eagle and California Condor Restoration Program: 2006 Annual Report. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #044 to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Salinas, CA.
057 Tomassi, S., K. Sorenson, and S. Jackson. 1999. 1999 Final Report: Bald Eagle Reintroduction and Nest Monitoring on the Central California Coast. Technical Report #057, Ventana Wildlife Society, Salinas, CA.
059 Sorenson, K., L. J. Burnett, J. Steffen, and S. Lucido. 2001. Bald Eagle and California Condor Restoration in the California Central Coast region: 2001 Final Report. Technical Report #059, Ventana Wildlife Society, Salinas, CA.
081 Ventana Wildlife Society. 2013. Eagle Conservation Plan for Camp Roberts California National Guard Training Site 2013. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #081 to California National Guard, Camp Roberts, California.
030 Thorngate, N. 2005. Bald Eagle Monitoring at Camp Roberts California Army National Guard Training Facility. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #030 to California Army National Guard, Camp Roberts, Big Sur, CA.
038 Thorngate, N. 2006. Bald Eagle Monitoring at Camp Roberts California Army National Guard Training Facility, 2006. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #038 to California Army National Guard, Camp Roberts, Big Sur, CA.
044 Burnett, J. and K.J. Sorenson. 2007. Ventana Wildlife Society’s Bald Eagle and California Condor Restoration Program: 2006 Annual Report. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #044 to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Salinas, CA.
057 Tomassi, S., K. Sorenson, and S. Jackson. 1999. 1999 Final Report: Bald Eagle Reintroduction and Nest Monitoring on the Central California Coast. Technical Report #057, Ventana Wildlife Society, Salinas, CA.
059 Sorenson, K., L. J. Burnett, J. Steffen, and S. Lucido. 2001. Bald Eagle and California Condor Restoration in the California Central Coast region: 2001 Final Report. Technical Report #059, Ventana Wildlife Society, Salinas, CA.
081 Ventana Wildlife Society. 2013. Eagle Conservation Plan for Camp Roberts California National Guard Training Site 2013. Ventana Wildlife Society Technical Report #081 to California National Guard, Camp Roberts, California.
