May 25, 2013
The majestic bird that symbolize the United States is flying high again.
An analysis by the US Geological Survey finds the bald eagle population is holding steady throughout much of the country and has surged in the Northeast.
During the late 1970's, the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species in nearly every state. The decline was blamed on the pesticide DDT which accumulated in fish the eagles ate. But in 1995, the bald eagle had recovered enough to be reclassified as "threatened" and it could soon be taken off the list altogether.
The analysis was carried out by hundreds of scientists and trained volunteers who count eagles by land, water and air. The figures are based on midwinter surveys that counted more than 10,000 bald eagles in 42 states.
