The Bald Eagle is once again becoming more common across the Cumberland Plateau. Although no longer federally endangered, the Bald Eagle is still a species of concern. Therefore Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) biologists survey areas throughout the state, studying and reporting numbers from year to year.
Chris Simpson, TWRA Wildlife Diversity coordinator, didn’t know as a child standing on the banks of Reelfoot and watching Bald Eagles overhead, that he’d grow up to study and help manage them for the state of Tennessee.
TWRA biologists with the assistance of wildlife officers, utilize boats to traverse pre-designated routes looking for nests during surveys. Mr. Simpson compiles this data for the plateau region. The information is also shared with other state and federal institutes. Mr. Simpson has been researching eagles for 11 years now and said, “It’s amazing to study them and I love it. Seeing the symbol for freedom in the world, flying free in Tennessee is amazing. It’s one of my favorite things.”
From 1961 to 1983 Tennessee had zero nesting pairs of eagles, primarily due to use of the insecticide DDT. Bald Eagle populations declined drastically across the U.S. until DDT was banned in 1972. TWRA biologists along with other organizations reintroduced eagles through a program known as hacking, which allows young eagles to imprint on an area before being released. Eagles tend to return to nest and raise their own young within 75 miles of the area where they were born.
Today Tennessee has around 200 successful nests. Mr. Simpson has surveyed 50 nests in the plateau region. Nests typically measure five to six feet wide and three feet tall. Chicks are maturing this time of year and adults will spend much of their days searching for food to feed their nestlings. With a six to eight foot wingspan and a white head and tail, Bald Eagles are easy to see soaring over waterways in search of food. For the best chances of viewing Bald Eagles in the region visit Dale Hollow, Chickamauga and Watts Bar. For a longer trip one can consider visiting Reelfoot, where Mr. Simpson watched eagles as a child. Reelfoot even celebrates Bald Eagles with tours each winter. “Get out there and see them,” said Mr. Simpson. “Nothing can match the sight of an eagle in a crisp, blue sky.”
Funding for the study of Bald Eagles and other species of concern primarily comes from federal dollars gained through grants and various programs. For more information on this and other programs visit: tnwildlife.org.