this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2024
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Bald eagles seen nesting in Toronto for first time in city’s recorded history, proof of improving health of city’s green spaces (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 8 months ago by 0x815@feddit.de to c/canada@lemmy.ca
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Their presence underscores the dramatic return of a bird nearly pushed to extinction and of the improving health of Toronto’s sprawling green spaces and waterways.

Bald eagles, a bird perhaps more associated with the imagery of North America than any other fauna, are a rare ecological success story.

Once common throughout the continent – including in the area that became the city of Toronto – the bird was soon seen as a pest for settlers and farmers. Local authorities encouraged the widespread slaughter of the raptors, promising bounties in exchange for carcasses.

And although policies were later changed and protections were introduced, eagle populations continued to dwindle, especially in urban areas.

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[–] GrindingGears@lemmy.ca 2 points 8 months ago

It's amazing how much the bald eagle population recovered. As a child and then an adult growing up in SW Ontario, I never even saw a bald eagle. It wasn't until I was in my 30s, and after we moved out west that I saw my first one, in 2013. I saw two that year. Then two or three the next year. Then even more the year after, and got nice and close to a juvenile on a golf course at our company tournament.

Fast forward to today, and I know of about 5 nests in the the park near our house, and I always see at least one when I'm near that area. I go for bike rides in the summer evenings, and it's rare that I don't see at least one near the river.

Even back home, there's two nesting down at the river in the field behind my parents house. I saw the mother of all bald eagles on a drive near my parents place last year too. It's crazy (and super awesome) how that's changed over even the last decade.