Both the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provide good information for this highly detectable species, although the BBS does not provide good coverage of the remote, northern portion of the breeding range. Both surveys indicate that the Bald Eagle has undergone a dramatic population increase since the early 1970s (i.e., >1000% according to the CBC and >400% according to the BBS) across its range (results for all Bird Conservation Regions with reasonably reliable BBS results are displayed below). The North American results of both the CBC and the BBS show a similar dramatic increase in the continental population. Because the Bald Eagle was persecuted and affected by DDT (Farmer et al. 2008), resulting in low levels of abundance at the start of monitoring efforts, and its historical abundance remains unknown, a specific management goal relative to 1970 has not yet been set. However, with an increasing population trend, the Bald Eagle is at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see CBC Canada graph below).
Additional information on: Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
Additional information on: British Columbia Coastal Waterbird Survey
Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis