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

The bald eagle only occurs in North America and prefers to inhabit areas like large inland lakes, coastal regions, and rivers. Basically, anywhere where fish are abundant. They are often spotted perched in large trees along the shoreline. In addition, these birds of prey are primarily seen flying with slow but strong wing beats, soaring on flat wings, or perching in large trees on the water’s edge. These eagles are scavengers and predators since they are opportunistic feeders. But watching them hunt is a sight to see. They locate their prey, swoop down, and in an instant, their feet thrust forward and snatch the animal. Then, they fly away with the prey clutched in their talons. Two states house the highest number of bald eagles. Florida vs. Minnesota, which has more bald eagles in their skies?

Number of Bald Eagles in Florida

Florida has one of the most significant amounts of nesting bald eagles in the US, consisting of approximately 1,500 nesting pairs. The majority of nesting territories are concentrated around several significant rivers, lakes, and coastal systems in the Sunshine State. Nesting bald eagles in Sunshine State have been closely studied by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since 1972. And 2007 saw the removal of the bald eagle from the USFWS endangered species list. Then, in 2008, these eagles were removed from the FWC imperiled species list. But, they are still protected under the State Bald Eagle Rule, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Number of Bald Eagles in Minnesota

Minnesota has the largest concentration of bald eagle nesting pairs. There are approximately 9,800 nesting pairs in the state. These eagles have adapted well to suburban environments in Minnesota, often inhabiting areas around popular lakes. Furthermore, they also nest in areas along the St. Croix River, Mississippi River, and northern lakes.

During the colder months, these eagles migrate south to areas with open water that sustain high numbers of fish or waterfowl. In the North Star State, this includes lakes in the southeastern territories and the Mississippi River.

What Affects the Bald Eagle Population In Florida?

Why is there such a high number of bald eagles in Florida? It’s because of the environment of the Sunshine State. Because Florida offers plenty of open water and tall trees, it’s the perfect habitat for these birds of prey. For example, the large trees provide places to perch and build nests. In addition, the open water provides tons of fish, which are these eagles’ preferred prey. However, they also eat amphibians, small mammals, carrion, and reptiles. These birds of prey can survive for days without food, sometimes weeks. Therefore, they gorge on food and digest it over a few days.

As mentioned above, these eagles like to nest in tall trees. As a result, their preferred tree of choice in Florida is conifers, as they provide aerial views of the surrounding landscape. While these eagles are excellent hunters, they won’t turn up their beaks at other animals’ kills. Furthermore, they like to harass other bird species once they catch their prey. For example, these eagles will knock an ospreys kill out of their clutches in mid-air and catch them as they fall.

What Affects the Bald Eagle Population in Minnesota?

Minnesota has always been a state where these eagles thrive, even when their numbers were decreasing throughout North America. The reason bald eagles do so well in Minnesota is because of the amount of water in the state. More water equals more fish, making it the perfect location for nesting. However, there was a time when their population was in serious trouble because of DDt and other toxic substances used to kill other animals. The bald eagles would eat their carcasses and die.

What Role Does the Bald Eagle Play in Florida’s Ecosystem?

Bald eagles play an essential role in the health of Minnesota’s ecosystem. If their numbers started to decrease significantly, it would cause havoc. For example, fish populations would increase. While this might seem like a good thing to some people, it is devasting for aquatic vegetation. Algae, seagrass, eelgrass, and other plants would severely decrease due to overgrazing. Unfortunately, this would result in polluted water, as these plants help filter the water. As a result, high-nutrient fertilizers and toxic metals could get into the ecosystem and cause eutrophication. When this happens, the entire environment becomes uninhabitable for most species. Additionally, humans can not benefit from the services provided by the ecosystem.

What Role Does the Bald Eagle Play in Minnesota’s Ecosystem?

These eagles play an essential part in Minnesota’s environment. They help clean up their habitat by scavenging on dead animal matter. In addition, their excellent hunting skills help keep various animal populations at bay. They carry out this task by killing slow, old, and weak animals, leaving only the fittest alive.

Bald Eagle Conservation Efforts in Florida

While the bald eagle is the national symbol and bird of the United States of America, natives still hunted them, causing their population numbers to decline. Luckily, conservation efforts were implemented, and their numbers began to increase. Sadly, they are no longer listed under the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Rules and the US Endangered Species Act. However, they remain protected under the Federal law. In addition, The Species Action Plan for the Bald Eagle was completed in November 2017. The Species Action Plan is a non-regulatory conservation plan that outlines the steps needed to maintain or increase bald eagle populations in Florida. This plan gets reviewed every seven years to ensure it stays relevant.

Bald Eagle Conservation Efforts in Minnesota

When pioneers first settled in Minnesota, they treated bald eagles like vermin because these birds of prey competed for the same food like fish and other game species. Furthermore, these eagles would also kill domestic livestock from time to time. As a result, bald eagles were killed on sight. Another factor in their decline in numbers was the proliferation of pesticides during World War II, especially DDT, which created a toxic environment for all raptors. Unfortunately, birds of prey would eat fish and other organisms infected with this pesticide. While the concentration of chemicals rarely killed bald eagles, it made the shells of their eggs fragile, causing them to break during incubation.

Thankfully, many Minnesota residents and agencies helped increase their numbers in the 1960s. For example, The US Forest Service implemented individual management plants for every nesting area in the Chippewa National Forest. As a result, there are now 144 nesting pairs in the area. Furthermore, limiting seasonal visits to nesting areas helped boost their numbers. Then, during the early 1970s, the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center contributed to its conservation by treating, rehabilitating, and releasing sick or injured bald eagles. Since they began, this institution has treated more than 90 eagles yearly. In addition, in 1989, a female eagle nesting around the Twin Cities raised her chick after being treated and rehabilitated by the Raptor Center. Unfortunately, the Raptor Center, DNR Non-game Wildlife Program, University of Minnesota, and Wildlife Service discovered bald eagles with lead poisoning at a Wildlife preserve near Watson, Minnesota.

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