By Brandon Ladd

Several bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have been spotted around the SUNY Oswego campus in recent weeks. 

The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States of America but can be a hard find throughout parts of the country to see, this is because of its flirtation with local extinction from the contiguous United States into the late 1900s. In the mid-1900s their numbers were lowered furthered by use of the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) that caused the birds to lay eggs with thin shells. The population has rebounded since and was removed from the endangered species list in 1995. 

Central New York has been a spot that has seen the reemergence in recent years, especially the Syracuse area. The most popular viewing spot ironically is where civilization meets nature in Syracuse. The southern parking lot of Destiny USA is right next to the southern end of Onondaga Lake and has been the spot to see upwards of several dozen bald eagles at once. 

Still, Syracuse is around 35 miles away from the banks of Lake Ontario and the numerous numbers of bald eagles seen there have not been located in Oswego. A few sightings of a handful of the birds of prey at a time around the lake and river in the Port City have made the local news a few times in recent years but not to the number that Syracuse sees. 

Professor of ornithology at SUNY Oswego Daniel Baldassarre notes that the habitat around Lake Ontario attracts the bird of prey and it is showing this year especially. 

“This is a good spot for bald eagles so they have always been around,” Baldassarre said. “Bald eagles like to be around water, they are primarily fishers and they scavenge for fish as well. So, it is not new per say, but we are seeing more and more of them every single year.” 

The winter behavior of the bald eagle is less territorial compared to its mating season, which means they are more active and will be more visible during the day, but also that the same eagle may not stay in the same spot during the winter. Baldassarre points to this as a reason for the spread of more this year from its common spots along Onondaga Lake and the Oneida River. 

“Nobody is attending to a nest, nobody really has a territory that they are protecting,” Baldassarre said. “In the winter they are roaming all over the place, so what the eagles especially here are doing, is roaming up and down the lake shore or up and down the river. Especially when it is nasty and cold, they can go pretty far looking for open water. One thing that could happen is they have specific roosting spots they like, so they have nice big trees and reuse them at night.” 

The average lifespan of the national bird is around 20 years in the wild, meaning that the bird will repeat behavior several times. Baldassarre said that a bald eagle can learn which areas are safe and will continue to go back to these places, including along the SUNY Oswego campus. 

“As the population size increases there are just more and more birds around,” Baldassarre said. “They have to go somewhere and especially in the winter when there is less open water, the Oneida River can only sustain so many bald eagles. Then some will come over to the Oswego river. So, Oswego is becoming an awesome spot to see them as well if you take the river down. Onondaga Lake might actually be the best spot in the state now to see wintering bald eagles.” 

The campus is not the only spot in the greater Oswego area to go eagle watching, as a quick trip south to the Minetto area down Route 48 is also a spot Baldassarre said has had increased activity. Also, just along Route 481 from Oswego to Fulton have become spots to catch a glimpse. The Oswego River features multiple open spots and several large trees that attract a bald eagle. 

The increase in sightings has occurred over the birds’ entire range, something Baldassarre said shows the positive effects of conservation efforts. 

“Even outside of the state, their populations are increasing,” Baldassarre said. “You just are seeing more and more of them all over the place. It is a really great sign, a good example of our ability to actually positively affect species. It is all the result of very specific conservation efforts that have caused their populations to go up.” 

Though it is common to see bald eagles around Lake Ontario, it is unlikely that all of the birds will stay and nest in the area. Baldassarre said we will figure that answer out in a few weeks and to look around the big trees behind the Oswego State president’s house and near the neighboring power plant. 

“I have not known of any nesting bald eagles right around the campus in the past couple years,” Baldassarre said. “There have been some in the greater Oswego area, for sure, there are dozens of bald eagle nests and they have been increasing in numbers every year. But whether we get one right along the lake or by rice creek would be very interesting to see. The bald eagles start their breeding season very early compared to other birds, they are basically building their nests right now. It is definitely very possible.” 

Baldassarre and the rest of the community will be keeping a close eye on if a nest appears in the coming weeks. He mentioned any interested students in reaching out to him for joining his students at the Rice Creek field station for bird observations days.  

Photo from Flickr