Spotting a bald eagle in London could be a more common sight

It can be a special moment when you spot a bald eagle soaring through the sky or perched in a tree.

The mighty birds of prey, which were long considered endangered until 2023, are now growing in population across southwestern Ontario. They feast mostly on fish, which makes London an ideal home during the winter with the Thames River flowing and Fanshawe Lake.

"Now is actually a really good time of year to see bald eagles in southwestern Ontario," said Brendon Samuels, a PhD candidate at Western University and coordinator of Bird Friendly London. "They're a migratory species, so they move around the continent at different times of the year. Right now, they're hanging around in more southerly parts of the country to be where their food is."

The bald eagle population was in decline for decades because of an insecticide called DDT, which is now banned. The majestic birds have since made a comeback and are now listed as an animal of "special concern."

"Bald eagle populations had really declined in past decades due to several factors, but we're starting to see them rebound," said Samuels. "That said, bald eagles still face threats. They're very susceptible to lead poisoning from hunters using lead ammunition, and they can also be poisoned by rodenticides, which are often used to manage pests in buildings."

Every year, Nature London organizes an event called the Christmas Bird Count, where volunteers count birds across the city. According to Samuels, the bald eagle count has been relatively high, with up to 50 sightings.

Bald eagles typically breed over the winter months, so it might also be possible to spot some young eagles in the coming weeks.

"You might see some juveniles, which tend to look really dark, whereas adult bald eagles have that distinctive bright white head. When they're young, their heads are brown," said Samuels.

Bald eagles can grow to a height of nearly one metre with a wing span two metres. Their vocalization doesn't match their impressive size, as they deliver a high-pitched peep.

While bald eagles don't pose a threat to humans, Samuels said it's important to respect their space.

If you spot a bald eagle, you can contribute to citizen science by taking a photo and sharing it on a platform such as iNaturalist or eBird. Data from those platforms helps researchers track population recovery and better understand the birds' movements.

Your sightings

Since this story was published, CBC London received several emails from readers who sent in photos of their own recent bald eagle sightings in and around London.

If you spot a bald eagle and want to share a photo with CBC London, you can email it our newsroom.