Despite America’s national bird still on the endangered list, the bald eagle is making a comeback along the Channel Islands just off the coast of Los Angeles.
With the possible exception of Catalina Island, most Los Angelenos have no idea that an island chain exists just beyond the crashing waves. Catalina, however, is just one of the six Channel Islands which grace the California coast. I try to make it out to at least one of them every year where I can experience the peace and solitude of nature just a 40 minute boat ride away.
Although the islands are home to many sea birds, bald eagles haven’t been seen here since the 1970s when DDT runoff from the Montrose Chemical Company near Torrance began killing them all off.
Now, thanks to a $140-million settlement against the company, researchers are reintroducing bald eagles to the Channel Islands. Success has been slow, but productive. According to the Los Angeles Times, the first two chicks were born a year ago on Santa Cruz Island. In the last month, however, the population has increased with another chick on Santa Cruz and four others on Catalina.
While this is pretty cool in itself, the reason we are bringing it to your attention is because of the opportunity to witness every move the new chicks are making in their nests. Solar powered web cams have been placed at three nests on the islands and can be easily accessed here.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the web cams have built a very passionate fan base that tunes in daily to coo over the chicks. Apparently a handful of viewers have also left the virtual world to travel to California and witness the birds in person–from a safe distance of course.
I love it. Web cams promoting tourism. Take a moment to check it out yourself. I have to admit, those chicks are pretty damn cute. I might just be jumping on a boat myself to go visit them.