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Monitoring birds - Protecting waters - Inspiring change
What Researchers Learn From a Bald Eagle Nest
WOWRI explains how eagle monitoring helps track Great Lakes Environmental Health
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — May 18, 2026 — The Wings Over Water Research Institute (WOWRI) has already begun climbing to bald eagle nests across southern Michigan from Kalamazoo to Ann Arbor as part of its 2026 field season, prompting questions from the public about how we locate nests, handle eaglets and use the samples we collect.
WOWRI affiliated researchers and their partner agencies study bald eagles to provide critical data used to better understand the health of the Great Lakes environment. These fish-eating birds serve as indicators of environmental quality because contaminants in local waters accumulate in their young.
WOWRI researchers maintain the only bald eagle population and monitoring data in Michigan dating back to 1961. Dr. William Bowerman, WOWRI-affiliated researcher and professor at the University of Maryland, is one of the nation’s leading eagle researchers and has overseen the continuation of this work since 1985.
“Years ago, researchers could visit nearly every bald eagle nest in Michigan,” Bowerman said. “Today, the number of nests has grown significantly while funding has declined, so we prioritize nests based on the environmental information they can provide.”
Each spring, aerial surveys conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources identify active nests across the state. After receiving permits and approval from landowners, field crews then visit selected nests to confirm the number of eaglets, measure and band them, and collect blood samples for analysis.
The blood samples help scientists study contaminants including PFAS, mercury, PCBs and pesticides, as well as immune system function and genetic health. WOWRI works with partners including the U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and other laboratories to analyze the samples.
Researchers say the work is especially important following the 2022 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, which killed more than 40 percent of Michigan’s nesting bald eagle pairs.
The field season is short because eaglets can only be safely handled between five and nine weeks of age. During this period, scientists can collect valuable information about local environmental conditions because parent eagles hunt local water sources close to the nest while raising their chicks.
The research also supports cleanup efforts in Michigan Areas of Concern — heavily polluted waterways undergoing long-term cleanup and restoration.
Despite the importance of the work, WOWRI says no dedicated funding was available for the intensive field work in 2025 and 2026. Researchers are volunteering time and relying on collaborative laboratory support for analyzing blood to continue this long-term data and the valuable information it provides. The number of nests visited each year depends on the amount of funding available.
“Every nest visit provides critical information about the health of Michigan’s waters and wildlife,” said Jennifer Day, Executive Director of WOWRI. “Private donations help ensure this work will continue adding to our globally important 65 years of data on this species and the environment.”
About Wings Over Water Research Institute
Founded in 2025, the Wings Over Water Research Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing environmental science in the Great Lakes Region. It is dedicated to long-term monitoring of bald eagles and fish-eating waterbirds across the Great Lakes region and beyond. Using these species as sensitive indicators of water quality, WOWRI conducts rigorous research, public outreach and educational programming to inform environmental management and cleanup decisions.
To learn more or support the work, visit wingsoverwaterri.org.
Contact:
Jennifer Day, Executive Director / CEO WOWRI, 734-465-9505, jennifer@wingsoverwaterri.org
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