Many eagles nesting in obscurity, even in Cedar Rapids

Much attention has focused on a webcam of nesting eagles near Decorah.

It is visible to the world, but meanwhile, other Iowa eagles are nesting in obscurity. In fact, there are active nests within the city limits of both Marion and Cedar Rapids.

Eagles mostly eat fish and normally build a monstrous nest of coarse sticks near the top of a tree close to water. Before settlement, the birds were common and nested across much of North America, includ­ing Iowa.

Settlement sent our national bird into a downward spiral. People used them for target practice, and habitat degradation and water pollution further stressed eagle populations. A new threat was DDT, which entered use during World War II. The pesticide caused eagle eggs to have thin shells that broke during incubation. Eagle numbers plummeted as few chicks fledged.

Eagle habitat has improved. So have attitudes. People now shoot eagles with cameras in­stead of guns. Recovery really began in 1972 with a national ban on DDT.

As it eventually dissipated, eagle eggs began hatching and the population rebounded.

For years, no eagles nested in Iowa but northern birds wintered here.

About 20 years ago a few remained to nest. Now eagles nest in most Iowa counties.

Nesting eagles don't mind being close to people. The Cedar Rapids and Marion nests are near busy roads and homes. They keep a low profile and thousands of people drive within site of the nests without noticing them.

- By Rich Patterson, Indian Creek Nature Center