Florida vs. Michigan: Which Has More Bald Eagles Roaming Its Skies?

Bald eagles are carnivorous birds that live throughout large areas of North America. The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, serving as a symbol of the nation’s power and resolve. Although the bird was once considered an endangered species, years of protection have allowed its population to recover. They’re now found in many states around the U.S., including states like Florida and Michigan. Between Florida vs. Michigan, which has more eagles roaming its skies? Discover which state has greater numbers of the national symbol swooping through the air!

How Many Bald Eagles Live in Florida?

Florida may not be the first place that people imagine when talking about bald eagle nesting grounds. However, bald eagles primarily nest in large trees in safe places where they can find food. While they’re carnivorous, bald eagles primarily dine on fish, small mammals, and sea birds. Thus, Florida has a lot of the features that they look for when finding a habitat.

Florida has a significant population of bald eagles in the state. Currently, Florida has about 1,500 pairs of bald eagles living in its borders. That gives this state a significant lead in the bald eagle population over most others in the U.S. These birds tend to live along the coastal areas of all but the southernmost parts of the state. They also nest around lakes in the state such as Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga, and Lake Okeechobee.

Breeding pairs are important because they return during the breeding season to the same nest with the same mate from prior years. Preserving their nests helps the animals return and produce more offspring in a given area. Outside of the breeding season, bald eagles migrate. Sometimes, they travel as far north as Canada or parts of New England.

Knowing the population of the birds in this state, let’s continue to explore the Florida vs. Michigan matchup to see which state has more bald eagles.

How Florida Became a Home for Bald Eagles

Bald eagles were removed from the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2007 as a result of the bird’s population recovery. However, Florida still assigns specific legal protections for bald eagles under the so-called state eagle rule (68A-16.002, F.A.C.).

Also, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)has taken many steps to help bolster the population of bald eagles in the state. They work with numerous volunteers to find and document new bald eagle nests so they can be provided with various protections.

The FWC has also created a species action plan to help continue the bald eagle’s recovery. The action plan outlines numerous ways that the commission and other stakeholders can protect bald eagles in the state.

Florida utilizes conservation and management of bald eagle populations, monitoring and research, education, law enforcement, and cooperation with other entities to help save the population. All these actions are helping to maintain and increase the population of bald eagles in the state.

What is the Population of Bald Eagles in Michigan?

Michigan also has a population of about 800 breeding pairs of bald eagles within its borders. While that is much less than Florida, the state’s recovery is still impressive. Bald eagles were almost extirpated from Michigan entirely. By 1961, only 52 breeding pairs of the species lived in Michigan as a whole. Between 1961 and 1987, no bald eagles hatched in the area surrounding Detroit.

Pesticide contamination and pollution cut down the birds’ population until they were protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Today, bald eagles are found in many places with high tree tops and water. The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is one of the most surprising locations where people see these birds. They often hunt for food on places like Mud Island and nest along areas farther south on Lake Erie.

Today, bald eagles are widespread throughout the state, and their numbers continue to grow.  

How Michigan is Saving Its Population of Bald Eagles

Although the bald eagle has made an impressive recovery in the state of Michigan, challenges persist. From 1987 to 2017, 1,500 bald eagles died in the state. At least, those are the ones officials know about. Government entities examine the bodies and determine the factors most likely to kill them.

The most common causes of death for bald eagles are vehicle strikes and lead poisoning. The birds often eat roadkill, and sometimes a car hits them while they’re feeding. Lead poisoning is a bit more complicated. Sometimes, the birds lead ammunition in deer carcasses. Other times, they’ll consume fishing gear when hunting for fish. The lead poisons the birds, and they die later on.

However, Michigan is doing a lot to protect the animals and increase their population. While they’re not endangered, they’re still protected under federal and state laws. These protections provided the conservationists with the tools needed to identify and protect nests, educate locals about the birds, and identify and mitigate threats to their safety.

Today, the bald eagle population continues to grow despite challenges.

Florida vs. Michigan: Which Has More Bald Eagles?

Florida has more bald eagles than Michigan, with the former having 1,500 nesting pairs and the latter having only 800 pairs of eagles. Given the fact that the population of bald eagles in the entire United States once dipped down to about 417 nesting pairs, the fact that each state has more than that number is a testament to conservation efforts.  

However, Florida does not have the highest bald eagle population. That honor belongs to Alaska, a state with an estimated 30,000 breeding pairs. Minnesota has an estimated 9,800 breeding pairs of bald eagles. That means Florida has the third-largest population of bald eagles in the U.S.

So, in the matchup between Florida vs. Michigan, Florida has more bald eagles. Both states are still doing very well in helping the national symbol of the United States. As the bald eagle population continues to grow, the birds will become more common throughout the country. People that have never seen a bald eagle before will have the opportunity to witness them swooping through the air in pursuit of a meal.

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