2025 CEQ Annual Report

Wildlife

Lobster and Fishes               Piping Plovers                Forest Birds               State-Listed Species

Raptors

Bald Eagles

The 2025 mid-winter survey in Connecticut recorded 203 eagles throughout the state. Since 1980, observation trends of eagles during the Midwinter Eagle Survey have increased significantly. The number of eagles recorded in 2025 was 48 percent greater than in 2024* (137) and approximately 26 percent greater than the previous ten-year average (161). Variation in bald eagle observations can be attributed to the survey event occurring once a year, as well as differences in volunteer numbers and weather conditions.   

In 2025 (most recent data), 91 bald eagle active territories were observed in the state, which represents an increase of approximately 36 percent from the previous ten-year average (67). The number of confirmed chicks also increased in 2025 to 80.⁶²

The bald eagle was first declared an endangered species with the passage of the federal Endangered Species Act in 1973. Bald eagle populations eventually began to recover due to the ban on DDT use, successful reintroduction programs of fostered chicks, and habitat and nest protection measures. In 2007, the bald eagle was officially removed from the federal Endangered Species List.⁶³

Goal: The goal for bald eagles is derived from the 1983 Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan, prepared by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The Plan established a goal of 20 breeding birds (10 nests) for Connecticut.

Osprey

Another large fish-eating bird, the osprey**, has rebounded in similar fashion to the bald eagle. From a low of nine active nests in 1974, more than 682 active nests occupied by osprey were monitored by the Connecticut Audubon Society in 2025.⁶⁴ The active nests produced 862 observed fledglings, which resulted in a productivity rate of 1.26 fledglings per active nest. Although the productivity rate (fledglings/active nest) decreased from 1.48 in 2024, it was still greater than a productivity rate of 1.15, which is considered necessary to sustain the population. The decrease in productivity rate is believed to be due to increases in incubation and post-hatch losses as well as abandonments and fewer birds fledging per nest.⁶⁵   

Goal: There is no established goal for ospreys in Connecticut, but ospreys, like bald eagles, are a “sentinel species,” meaning their health indicates the health of the environment around them.

Osprey, also known as the “fish hawk,” feed primarily on fish; consequently, osprey nests are typically located along the Connecticut shore or proximate to water.

_{Technical Note: *Limited staff resources hampered a full monitoring effort of bald eagles in 2024; consequently, the data for 2024 might be under-reported. Territories are resource areas used by eagles that have only one active nest. **Data on fledglings for osprey for 2014 was not available. Osprey counts in 2020 might have been affected by the COVID 19 pandemic and might not be complete.}

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⁶² _{DEEP, personal communication from B. Hess, February 9 and 11, 2026.}

⁶³ _{DEEP, Bald Eagle; portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/fact-sheets/bald-eagle.}

⁶⁴ _{DEEP, Osprey; portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/fact-sheets/osprey.}

⁶⁵_{The Connecticut Audubon Society, Osprey Nation 2025 Season Report, December 4, 2025; https://ctaudubon.org/conservation/science/osprey-nation/osprey-nation-map-and-data/}