Connecticut’s Eagles: A Story of Resilience
- Janet Cunningham
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
By Jared Boulet | July 27, 2026
I was lucky to see a Bald Eagle as I was paddling along the Connecticut River recently. I spotted its quintessential white head tucked away in some branches, probably waiting to steal a fish from an unsuspecting osprey. Such is the way on the river. You have to be tough or clever to earn a meal.
A few moments later, I spotted another bird. This one's head had less white and more mottled brown; it was probably three and a half years old. It can take up to five years to develop that fully white head, an earned achievement, as only about 50% of eaglets survive their first year.
To my surprise, just another tree down, and easily missed, were two fledglings from this year’s hatch. With a chocolate head and slight stripes on the neck, they are not what you picture when you imagine a bald eagle.
As a photographer and avid paddler, this was the mother lode. Clicking away at each bird getting photographs of each I started to appreciate how lucky we are to be living in the age of resurgence. In the days of climate change, human encroachment, and other environmental challenges, the bald eagle recovery is a story of hope.
Background
The mouth of the 410 mile Connecticut River, from Essex down to the Long Island Sound, has long served as a crucial ice-free winter refuge, ensuring accessible food year-round. Every winter, eagles from icier northern regions follow the Connecticut River south.
Eagles have always had a home in Connecticut - until they didn't. By the 1950s, the last eagle’s nest disappeared from Connecticut. This was largely due to the devastating effects of DDT*, which caused eggshells to become dangerously thin. The eggs couldn't withstand the weight of their incubating parents. Sadly, Connecticut was not unique, with raptor populations collapsing all over the country.
*For a deep dive into the impact of this pesticide, I highly recommend Rachel Carson’s seminal book, Silent Spring.
An Age of Resurgence
From the 1950s through the 1980s, the outlook was bleak. But then, the tide began to turn. In 1992, the first eagle nest in decades was spotted in Litchfield County. The pair successfully raised and fledged two eaglets. These birds were part of a repopulation program Massachusetts had been working on for some time.
The growth since then has been remarkable:
2010: Connecticut hit its goal of 10 nesting pairs.
2024: It became common to spot dozens of eagles from a boat's vantage point. In February, more than 50 eagles were sighted in just a few hours.
2025: A state survey recorded 67 nests, with 56 successfully fledging at least one chick, plus 18 additional territories with resident pairs.
Nature Needs Our Help
The work is never done and lately, other raptors, specifically ospreys, have not been so lucky. More than ever, it’s important to remember that nature needs our help, and we can make a difference.
If you'd like to kayak in ospreys' and eagles' natural habitats, Wanderlust Ecotours offers beginner to intermediate kayaking tours led by naturalists, providing a chance to birdwatch in many of Connecticut’s wildlife management areas. Learn more at https://www.wanderlustecotours.com/birding-wildlife
About the Author: Jared Boulet is a dedicated wildlife photographer, avid kayaker, and professional tour guide for Wanderlust Ecotours. He spends time along Connecticut’s waterways photographing and documenting eagles and other birds. You can view his photography on all things social at: @notjared_b
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