Despite protection and conservation efforts, bald eagles have been on Ontario’s list of at-risk species for around 50 years,

The city of Toronto has been abuzz with news about a pair of bald eagles, ever since the birds were first seen engaging in mating behaviour high above the city skyline. Soon after, residents reported what they believed to be the eagles’ nest—a tangle of sticks about as large as a queen-size mattress, lying among leafless tree branches—to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).

Fearing the announcement would lead residents towards the nest and disturb the sensitive birds, the conservation authority initially attempted to keep it secret from the public. In conversation with The Guardian, Karen McDonald, an employee at TRCA’s restoration and infrastructure division, said, “We want to give this pair the best chance at making it. We don’t want them to be loved to death by people of Toronto.”

However, as the nest can easily be spotted by boat and airplane traffic, it became increasingly difficult to hide from the public. As a result, TRCA publicly announced the presence of the nest earlier this month, officially marking it as the first bald eagle nest the city had seen in half a century.

Despite protection and conservation efforts, bald eagles have been on Ontario’s list of at-risk species for around 50 years and were only just removed in May 2023. The deterioration can largely be attributed to the long-term effects of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a widely used insecticide popular during the 1940s. It spread through the eagles’ food chain and weakened their eggshells, and by the early 1960s, the number of breeding pairs on the continent had reduced to a few hundred.

Toronto birdwatchers have expressed concern over the city’s newest duo, as the area around their nest falls coincides with TRCA’s other conservation efforts. In an effort to manage a different wildlife population, the conservation authority has enacted a series of typical management activities, such as cutting down trees. Birdwatcher Steve McClellan spoke to CTV News Toronto about the need to minimize disturbance, as the eagles are likely to be incubating eggs.

McClellan noted behaviour he believes indicates the birds are “clearly” startled by the disturbances around their nest. Other birdwatchers have expressed that while TRCA’s conservation activities are important, they could potentially be paused during the eagles’ critical breeding period.

In response, TRCA said they are monitoring the eagles’ situation and remain open to adjusting activities to reduce disruption in the area.