Bald Eagle no longer endangered

WASHINGTON, D.C – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced the removal of the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species at a ceremony at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. After nearly disappearing from most of the United States decades ago, the bald eagle is now flourishing across the nation and no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

“Today I am proud to announce: the eagle has returned,” said Secretary Kempthorne. “In 1963, the lower 48 states were home to barely 400 nesting pairs of bald eagles. Today, after decades of conservation effort, they are home to some 10,000 nesting pairs, a 25-fold increase in the last 40 years. Based on its dramatic recovery, it is my honor to announce the Department of the Interior’s decision to remove the American Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species List.”

Kempthorne emphasized the ongoing commitment of the Interior Department and the entire federal government to the eagle’s continued success, noting that bald eagles will continue to be protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both federal laws prohibit “taking” – killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.

For details about the species' recovery, the post-delisting monitoring plan and children's activities to celebrate the eagle's recovery, click here.

How will you celebrate the national symbol's recovery? I'll raise a toast at next Wednesday's Fourth of July festivities!

UPDATE: According to Google News, more than 500 articles about the delisting have appeared online at 9:35 a.m. PST. Granted, most of them are regurgitations of the Associated Press wire story, but still -- that's a lot of coverage, all over the world. Very nice to see the topic receive so many press.

Photo courtesy of Donna Dewhurst/USFWS