Bald Eagles were nearly extinct in New York State..An Eagle Restoration Project began in 1976 to reestablish a breeding population.
Over 13 years 198 Eagles were brought from Alaska and released in New York. The project was successful in establishing 10 nesting pairs mostly in upstate NY.
Eagles live primarily on fish so their habitat is limited to where they can catch fish.... Lakes, rivers, ocean and bays.. Long Island surrounded by water is an ideal place for them to make home....
Eagles pair for life, do not migrate, stay near their nest and can live into their 30's.. Oldest on record in NYS was 38...
First nesting on Eastern Long Island was 2008. Since then their population here has exploded.. They have preferred privacy from humans in large tracts of private, Federal, State and County land, but one western Suffolk County nest was built adjacent to a motel parking lot.
They are one of the largest birds of prey (raptors) in North America , having wing spans of over 6 feet, weighing 8 to 14 pounds. Females are larger than the males...
They usually build high in a live White pine tree near the water. Both male & female bring material for the nest but the female does most of the placing. Sticks are woven together with the inside lined with lichen, then downy feathers. These nests are used each year with repairs and enlargement over time. Ground nests are also built with driftwood and seaweed.
The young fledglings will find a mate and generally select a nesting site within 250 miles of their birth.
The young Eagle lacks the white head & tail for the first 5 years. They are a chocolate brown with some scattered white.
To view video click ... (Watch this video on YouTube.)
information taken from ... "the OSPREY" pamphlet ..Eastern Long Island Audubon Society...
