In the year 1972, DDT is banned in the U.S. It took a little time, but as DDT gradually disappeared from the aquatic environment the populations of bald eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons, and brown pelicans all began to recover.

In 1983 there were only three bald eagle nests in our state. Now there are more than 300. I believe they are now nesting in 48 of the counties. Bald eagles have recovered enough that they are no longer on the Endangered Species List.

Not that it is a scientific study, but in 1983, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary hawk watchers recorded 24 eagles migrating past the lookout from mid-August to mid-December. Last season, the total reached 611. Good news.

Our Times News coverage has at least six nests. Five of those nests are located in Carbon County and I know of one in eastern Schuylkill County. One nest is in East Penn Township, one in Franklin Township, one is in the Lehigh River Gorge, one is in Towamensing Township, and one in Penn Forest Township.

All but one of those is within a “stone’s throw” from the river or a lake. It is no wonder they chose those locations because, as you already know, their chief food item is fish.

Winter does provide a challenge for them. Of our local lakes, all but a small section of Beltzville Lake were ice covered. Even large sections of the Lehigh River had considerable ice cover. A few weeks ago, a rather large runoff from our 2-plus inches of rain cleared most of the river of ice.

Eagles, like great blue herons, are opportunists. If they find a private pond with a nice fish population, they will continue to return there much like we return to our favorite eatery. They are good at catching fish. If you have a well-stocked pond, you will have to share.

I have seen eagles feeding on carrion, and in winter, that may account for much more of their diet. I observed a juvenile eagle on three different days feeding on a roadkilled deer along a lightly traveled road. A friend, about four weeks ago, also watched a pair of adult eagles feeding on a dead red fox.

Two years ago, I spent a few hours observing (from a considerable distance away) eagles bringing fish to feed their young. While the pair is incubating the eggs, the male most often will bring his catch to the nest to feed his mate. Bald eagles share in the nest building; however, the female has the “final word” on stick placement. They also share incubation duties.

I have a recommendation for you to go online and bookmark three sites to watch live as the eagles warm the eggs, reposition the eggs, switch duties, bring in food, and eventually feed the young.

These sites are: Farm Country Eagle Live Stream, Hanover Eagle Live Stream, and Pittsburgh’s Hays Bald Eagle Camera. As I’m writing this column on Feb. 15, all three nests have eggs already. I think you’ll enjoy watching the activity at the nest while staying warm and dry, and most importantly, not disturbing the nests either.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: True/false, bald eagles wait to incubate their eggs until the clutch is complete.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Even after constructing and enlarging the paper nest, the bald-faced hornet colony uses it only one season.

Nature Reminders: Look for red-winged blackbirds, grackles, and cowbirds returning to our region shortly. Robins have been trickling in since early February. Get out there and observe …

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.