In a First, Bald Eagles Call This City Home

For the first time in Toronto, Canada’s history, a pair of bald eagles nest in the city.

“For decades, we’ve invested heavily in ecological restoration work. And finally, it’s paying off,” says Karen McDonald, who works at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s restoration and infrastructure division. “These eagles are a testament to that: if we didn’t have healthy waters and a healthy food web, I don’t think they’d be here.”

For myriad reasons, including the hunting of the bird and the widespread use of the insecticide DDT, bald eagle numbers dwindled in North America for many years. A ban on these two eagle menaces eventually led to rebounding eagle populations across the continent, which was renowned as one of the first significant victories of the modern environmental movement. The recent arrival of bald eagles in Toronto is likely thanks to the city’s massive restoration of green spaces and wetlands. Despite its fierce looks, the bald eagle is highly sensitive to disturbance within their environment; for them to stick around and call Toronto home, the community will have to work together to give it the respect it deserves.