Recovering Eagles Flock to U.S. in Winter

February is a good time to report on the fate of the bald eagle, which was removed from the endangered species list in 2007, but remains protected by a number of laws. Wintering eagles can be observed in almost every state, providing good opportunities to engage your audience.

As one tool for identifying eagle-observation locations, the National Wildlife Federation provides a couple of lists that pinpoint at least one spot in every state except Hawaii where the big birds can typically be found.

• "Bald Eagle Numbers Are Soaring!" Jan. 19, 2010 (one site each in 49 states).
• "10 Places To See Bald Eagles This Winter," Jan. 6, 2010 (includes a few places that don't overlap with the list above, as well as some basic eagle-watching etiquette).

In addition to these locations, some states have many more hotspots. To track these down, contact your state wildlife agency.

• State wildlife and environmental agencies.

For more background on the eagles, see:

• US Fish and Wildlife Service: Bald and Golden Eagles.
• National Wildlife Federation: Bald Eagle.
• Previous Stories: TipSheets of January 23, 2008, and December 6, 2006.