Bald eagles rebound in the US, and more global points of progress
1. United States Bald eagle populations in the contiguous United States have quadrupled since 2009, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report. Despite being a beloved national symbol, only 417 bald eagle nesting pairs were confirmed in the mainland U.S. about 60 years ago. Today, there are an estimated 316,700 birds, up from 72,434 in 2009. Bald eagles were among the first species protected under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. Combined with a ban on the pesticide DDT – believed to have decimated bald eagle populations after World War II – experts say decades of government pro...