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Eagles soar again in North Jersey
Date: 5/10/2007 Album ID: 268671
Photos by The Record
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Bald eagles, an endangered species, have made a remarkable recovery in New Jersey.
State environmental experts say it may be only a matter of time before bald eagles nest again in Bergen County. A pair nested in Alpine last year, but the tree holding the nest fell before any eggs hatched. This year, eagles have been sighted along the Hackensack River, in Woodcliff Lake, Oradell, Teaneck, Hackensack and Bogota, as well as in the Meadowlands. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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A team of wildlife zoologists from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recently removed a pair of six-week-old eaglets from their nest so the two could be banded and examined by a veterinarian. Their nest can be seen along the top of the tree line to the right. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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The state does not want the nesting site, which is in a state park in Sussex County, disturbed. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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As the group of researchers and park rangers approaches the nest on foot, one adult eagle flies nearby while the other guards the nest. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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The two scientists band each eaglet on both legs -- a silver federal ID bracelet on one leg and a green state band on the other. Researchers will use the bands to identify the birds down the road, and to track the survival and location changes in the eagle population. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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At the base of the sycamore where the eagles are nesting, Mick Valent and Kathy Clark, principal zoologists for the state DEP's Endangered and Non-game Species Program, discuss the game plan. Valent will scale the tree much like a telephone lineman shinnies up a phone pole, and then retrieve the two eaglets. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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Clark and Miller measure the beak, the wings, and the bottom of the legs -- information to be entered into the state's eagle database. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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When Valent reaches the top of the sycamore, he puts a leather hood over each eaglet so it can't see (they are calmer that way), then lowers each in a canvas bag, one at a time. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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All the while, one eagle perches atop a nearby tree, unsure of what to do. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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Kathy Clark and Erica Miller, staff veterinarian of TriState Bird Rescue and Research in Delaware, make sure the eaglets land safely. The two perform a medical exam on each bird, and then band them. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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The other soars overhead, keeping an eagle eye on Valent and the other researchers. After the medical exam and the banding are completed, the eaglets are returned to the nest, no worse for wear. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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The two scientists wrap the bird's feet to keep its powerful talons from hurting anyone, then weigh the bird and draw blood for testing. The birds each weigh just over 3 kilograms, or 7 pounds. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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And the two adult eagles can breathe easier once again. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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State biologists will study the samples to monitor the eaglets' health and to measure their exposure to such environmental contaminants as PCBs, DDT and its derivatives, and heavy metals -- mercury, cadmium and arsenic. (Photo by Jim Wright)
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