It’s Bald Eagle Hatching Season in Indiana and You Just Might Spot One

Seeing Bald Eagles in Warrick County

The other day, I was driving through Warrick County when I looked up and spotted a giant bird gliding through the sky. It had the signature white head and tail. It was a bald eagle! I still get a little excited when I see them, even though they aren’t super rare anymore, which is a good thing.

History of Bald Eagles in Indiana

Bald eagles have been the national bird of the United States since 1782. They nested in Indiana until around 1890, but their populations declined rapidly due to habitat loss and human pressures.

By 1940, the government acted to protect them. The Bald Eagle Protection Act made it illegal to kill or disturb eagles. However, the use of the pesticide DDT in the 1950s and 60s caused reproductive failure and thin eggs, leading to further population declines.

In 1972, DDT was banned, and in 1973, bald eagles were among the first species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Indiana Bald Eagle Reintroduction Program

In 1985, the Indiana Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program began the Bald Eagle Reintroduction Program. According to the Indiana DNR, seventy-three eaglets, seven to eight weeks old, were obtained from Wisconsin and Alaska between 1985 and 1989.

The eaglets were placed in a 25-foot nest tower in a secluded bay on Lake Monroe. They were monitored and fed daily until they were old enough to fly at 11 to 12 weeks of age. Since then, the eagle population in Indiana has continued to expand. By 2020, there were more than 350 nesting territories in the state.

Bald Eagles No Longer Endangered

In 2007, bald eagles were removed from the federal endangered list. Indiana’s population has rebounded dramatically, from just two nesting territories in 1989 to 350 in 2020 including three in Vanderburgh County and five in Warrick County.

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Where to See Bald Eagles in Indiana

The best places to spot bald eagles are around bodies of water. During winter, they migrate from northern Indiana to southern lakes when northern lakes freeze, making it easier to see them hunting and soaring. They are also most active in the early morning. Hello, breakfast!

Bald eagles breed in winter, and the incubation period is about 35 days. Bald eagles in Indiana typically hatch their eggs between mid-March and early May, with late March to mid-April being the peak, according to the National Eagle Center. 

10 Places to See Bald Eagles in Indiana

In the video, the DNR has asked if you see a bald eagle, that you report it to them so they can keep track of nesting sites. They ask that you stay far back, don't publicize your find, and report it.
1. Patoka Lake
2. Monroe Lake
3. Eagle Creek Park
4. Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
5. Mississinewa Lake
6. Brookville Lake
7. Indiana Dunes National Park
8. Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area
9. Raccoon Lake (Cecil M. Harden Lake)
10. Ohio River

If you do see eagles, the Indiana State Parks are warning folks to stay back.

To ensure you are watching these birds responsibly, give them space! If you see bald eagles in Indiana, observe the birds, their nests, and roosts from a distance of 330 feet, which is roughly the length of a football field. Photography enthusiasts should take photos of eagles with a telephoto lens. Foster a climate of respect for wildlife by sharing these guidelines with your friends.