Monitoring birds - Protecting waters - Inspiring change

WOWRI work in the News

Man wearing a helmet near a large bird nest with black birds.

Scientists stunned by Jackie the bald eagle's cause of death, USA Today 10/15/2026

WOWRI affiliates with the best of the best in their field. When Jackie, the famous bald eagle from California died, the news media call our own Dr. Bill Bowerman.

Did you know that Michigan lost 40% of its bald eagle population to the avian influenza in 2022. WOWRI affiliated researchers are the only ones monitoring these deaths.

"The mysterious death of Jackie, a beloved California bald eagle, has been blamed on complications from avian influenza, news that has left some experts puzzled.

"Nobody knew this was even a probability," said Dr. William Bowerman. "Her case gave us more science than we were expecting."

Michigan bald eagle success story faces new threats. Bridge Michigan, 6/5/2026

WOWRI field crews working with long-term bald eagle monitoring programs say they’ve found empty nests where aerial surveys previously documented young birds. They’ve also seen malnourished eaglets, damaged nests and signs that some adult bald eagles may be attempting to nest a second time after earlier failures.

What eagles can tell us about the health of the Great Lakes. Michigan Public, 5/28/26

Scientists are using baby eagle blood to assess the health of Michigan’s environment. Because eagles are top predators, heavily linked to lakes and rivers, they provide a proxy for water quality.

The eagles have been banded. NOW Kalamazoo, 5/20/26

The health of bald eagles, an animal at the top of its food chain, is an indication of both the overall health of the environment and the effects of PFAS and other contaminants, which may also endanger humans.

Long road to recovery. Munising Beacon, 12/31/25

Empty nests and vacant territories signal an uncertain road to recovery for Michigan’s bald eagle population. Four years ago, a highly pathogenic strain of avian flu spread across the country, claiming an estimated 40% of the state’s breeding pairs.

Blood of baby eagles reveals legacy of Michigan contamination from DDT to PFAS. M-Live 7/15/25

Samples of blood taken from bald eagle chicks before they learn to fly show that legacy pollution, even contaminants banned decades ago, continue to harm Michigan’s natural environment ...

Discover the U.P. with Kristin Ojaniemi, 12/24/25

14:22 video highlighting the visit to an eagles nest, our research, and visiting the nest.

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