Winged Prayer - Restored Flight of Eagles Shows the Way
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Winged Prayer
Restored Flight of Eagles Shows the Way
In one of the most remarkable comebacks by a U.S. species, the bald eagle has rebounded from near extinction to delisting as a threatened bird under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). From a meager 417 breeding pairs in 1963, 9,700 or more nesting pairs now grace the states from coast to coast.
Although this national symbol remains protected by law, continuation of its legacy is primarily attributed to the ESA’s protection of key habitat and elimination of DDT pesticides. The job now is "to make sure the eagle population stays stable and healthy," says Mike Dalton, director of conservation policy at the National Audubon Society.
Meanwhile, new study data from Audubon and the U.S. Geological Survey presents a wider reality check. Trends show that 20 common species of North American birds are in a tailspin, with populations down 54 to 80 percent since 1967. Habitat fragmentation from development is the main culprit, abetted by global warming. Birds in trouble include whippoorwills, meadowlarks, bobwhite, terns, scaup and snow bunting.
So far, none of the "common" bird species cited is in danger of extinction, says Dr. Greg Butcher, Audubon’s bird conservation director. But their struggle mirrors a global trend among endangered migratory songbirds and tropical species.
Kieran Suckling, policy director of the Center for Biological Diversity, concludes. "We hope and expect that the eagle’s success is just a hint of things to come."
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
