State's July 4 report: bald eagles thriving throughout Pa.

HARRISBURG — The bald eagle continues to supplant its recent - and remarkable - nesting successes with new records, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. And from all indications, this raptor isn’t done making headlines. “It’s fitting that news about the continuing triumphs of bald eagles have graced our headlines over the Fourth of July for the past several years. As our nation’s symbol, their presence is essential in America’s outdoors. They immediately add a touch of class and true wilderness to any area they inhabit,” said Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. This spring, bald eagles are known to be nesting in at least 47 of the state’s 67 counties. Their tally of nests is expected to exceed 140 nests. In June 2007, biologists estimated Pennsylvania had 120 known nests in 42 counties. The final count of those nests turned out to be 132, and they produced more than 150 eaglets. Clearfield, Cumberland, Delaware, Juniata and Perry counties have recorded their first bald eagle nests this year. New bald eagle nests also were found in Armstrong, Bucks, Bradford, Butler, Erie, Forest, Lycoming, Northumberland, Mercer, Pike, Tioga, Warren, Wayne and Wyoming counties. The state’s largest concentrations of eagle nests remain along the lower Susquehanna River, the upper Delaware River basin and the wetland-dominated Pymatuning region in northwestern Pennsylvania. The area still best known for nesting bald eagles remains the state’s northwestern counties.