Then and now: American bald eagle
Ben Mullaly, interpretive naturalist
Though steadily becoming a more common sight, the American bald eagle has had a turbulent past. At the time of European colonization of North America, bald eagles flourished in untouched woodlands and pristine waters. By the time of our park district’s beginning in 1921, they were rare in Ohio, having been driven out of the state’s interior and towards Lake Erie by deforestation.
With widespread use of the pesticide DDT in the 1950s and 60s, only four nesting pairs of eagles remained by 1979. Through habitat conservation and restoration initiatives over the past several decades, Ohioans now enjoy an estimated more than 350 nesting pairs in 2019. Look for American bald eagles within your Summit Metro Parks at Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park (Green) and Liberty Park (Twinsburg).
This is the first in a series of “Then & Now” articles in Green Islands magazine marking the park district’s centennial anniversary with a look at how our natural resources have evolved over the past one hundred years. Visit summitmetroparks100.org for more information and to participate in the centennial celebration. #SMP100
