In a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin expressed his displeasure with the founding fathers using the American Bald Eagle as the symbol on the Great Seal of the newly formed United States of America. Whether you agree with him or not, the Eagle has come to represent the strength of the mighty United States. In the mid-1960s, this majestic creature was almost extirpated in the United States with only 417 nesting pairs left in the lower 48 states. Today there are 316,000 in the same area and over 30,000 in Alaska. We will take a look at what NH’s roll was in this amazing conservation success story. Presenter, Ron Watson will discuss the American Bald Eagle and provide a unique look at an individual nest he monitored over a nine-year period.
About the presenter: An Atkinson resident, Watson is an outdoors-man who has spent his life exploring the natural world. As a longtime photographer most of his work over 60 years has revolved around the ocean both on and below. His work has appeared in scientific journals, on PBS’s NOVA and on Amateur Naturalist programs. Ron has worked as a scientific diver for the New England Aquarium and as the Chief Scientific Diver for the Charlotte Marine Research Team. He has worked with various marine mammal rescue organizations around the country and is currently on staff at the Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue.