Eagle spotted near Hopkinsville, becoming more common

Photo by Ashley Grace

People come from near and far each year to see bald eagles at the Land Between the Lakes, but a woman on Antioch Church Road was able to take a photo of one in Christian County this morning.
In fact, eagle sightings have become much more common in the southern Pennyrile each year thanks to the efforts of agencies across the area.

Perhaps most notably, officials at LBL have used methods of environmental clean-up, relocation and research to determine how the eagle population best thrives in this area. Environmental Education Specialist Darrin Sambarski says the insecticide compound DDT was one of the main culprits for the bald eagle population being endangered several years ago.

He says cleanup efforts and education about the danger of the product has gone a long way in saving the species.

There are now 15 to 18 eagle nests at LBL each year and Sambarski says the relocation program seems to be working very well.

Sambarski also pointed out that while bald eagles are no longer on the endangered species list, they are still monitored by the government. It is also a felony to kill a bald eagle, which serves as our national bird.

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02/01/2013/am