Eagles Soar to New Heights on Kentucky Lake

I was lucky enough to attend an Eagle Watch Tour Monday on Kentucky Lake.

Upon arriving at the Eagle Watch Tour media day I was greeted by Gil Lawson, Public Information Officer of the Department of Parks, who welcomed me aboard the C Q Princess yacht. He said the Eagle Watch program has been active in Kentucky for 46 years. The C Q Princess is a 96-foot yacht operated by the Kentucky Department of Parks. It is staffed by park employees who are all helpful. In addition there are naturalists from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources who help spot eagles and help identify the other species of animals and birds.

During the cruise information was provided from the KDFWR. In 1986 Kentucky had only one eagle nesting territory. By 1990 that number had grown to 6 nesting territories. By 2000 the number had increased to 23. Then the increase began to climb and by 2010 it had climbed to 84 and by 2013 the number had grown to 123 nesting territories in 54 counties. The lakes region has 31 of those nesting territories.

In 2007 Kentucky’s population was sufficient to have them removed from the endangered and threatened species list. In addition as many as 400 Bald Eagles migrate through Kentucky each year.

David Swells of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park reported that one of the nests near Kentucky Dam is right along a road and had fledged at least one young eagle each of the last 3 years. Fledging is when a young eagle grows to the point where it can fly from the nest.

Eagles in Kentucky generally lay eggs during the January to March period. The young then fledge in April to July.  The adults will then begin repair of the nest as early as October before starting the cycle again in January. It takes an eagle 5 years before they get the distinctive white head, yellow bill and dark body. During those 5 years they go through several stages of mottled brown and white.

In addition to at least seven eagles, there were numerous other birds and even a coyote spotted during the 3 hour tour.

It has been exciting to see eagles on Kentucky Lake. My first was in 1988 and now it is a fairly common event due to the increased population. The success of the population growth in Kentucky has been fostered by the Kentucky Department of Parks, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife Services and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers all working in cooperation.

You can help out by attending an Eagle Watch Tour. While sightings of eagles have become more common, you are still urged to report any eagle nesting sites to the KDFWR.