Bald Eagles: Up Close and Local

This article is written by Kathleen Ramunni:

A pair of bald eagles has chosen a tree off State Street in Hamden to call home, and they are drawing people hoping to see the nation's symbol of freedom up close and personal.

East Haven resident George Kenyon managed to catch some incredible photos of the threatened species. 

The eagles, one male and one female, have been spotted flying in the area of State Street and Ridge Road in Hamden. The pair has a nest and reportedly is raising a family there.

They have attracted attention from residents hoping to get a glimpse of the rare birds. 

"It's pretty exciting to have them here," said Ronald Murgew, a New Haven resident who brought his six-year-old grandson to the area to go bird-watching. Both spent about a half and hour waiting for them to appear, but they were no where to be found.

The bald eagle is considered a threatened species in Connecticut, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The federal government first declared the birds an endangered species in 1973 when their numbers dropped due to the use of insecticide DDT, but after its ban, eagle populations began to increase.

In Connecticut, bald eagles were considered endangered until 1992, when it was reclassified as threatened.

"Despite their large size, eagles are easily disturbed by unpredictable human activity, making delineated protection zones necessary around areas of high eagle use, particularly nest sites and winter roosts," according to the DEEP site. "Disturbance at nest sites may cause the birds to abandon their nest, even if there are eggs or young in the nest. 

"If you see one or more eagles feeding or roosting, leave them alone and observe them from a distance," the site says.