VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY
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Bald Eagle Recovery

We released 70 juvenile Bald Eagles in central California.
Since then a Bald Eagle breeding population has been re-established
​ and continues to grow.
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.  
Picture
Once an endangered species, Bald Eagles were delisted in 2007


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.
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.
Picture

ventana wildlife society

9699 Blue Larkspur Ln, Ste 105
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 455-9514   fax (831) 455-2846

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  • Home
    • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Big Sur Discovery Center
    • Wildlife Sanctuaries >
      • Wildlife Sanctuaries
      • Big Sur Condor Sanctuary
      • Lake Nacimiento Eagle Sanctuary
    • Media Coverage
    • Organization Documents
    • Contact Us / Get Updates
  • Membership
  • Wildlife
    • California Condors >
      • California Condors
      • Big Sur Fires
      • Condor Cam
      • Baby Condors
      • My Condor Bios
      • Recovering Condors >
        • Condor Releases
        • Lead Threat
        • Non-Lead Ammunition
        • GPS Tracking
        • Nest Monitoring
        • Electrocutions
        • Micro-Trash
        • Marine Contaminants
      • The Movie
    • Bald Eagles
    • Vultures of the World
  • Services
    • Consultation
    • Conservation Planning
    • Surveys >
      • Surveys
      • Other Wildlife
  • Education
    • Programs >
      • Programs
      • Required Forms
      • Bilingual Education
      • Nature Prescription Programs
      • Partners
    • Young at heart
    • Resources
    • Inspirational Youth
    • Fund-A-Need
    • Presentations
  • Join Us
    • Rebuild and Restore
    • Adopt-A-Condor
    • Events >
      • Feathers in Flight
    • Zoom-Chats
    • Legacy Society
    • Our Supporters >
      • Our Supporters
      • Corporate Sponsors
      • Foundations
      • Collaborators
      • In-Kind Donors
    • Volunteer
    • Employment
    • Store