Bald Eagles on the Detroit River
In 2004, the ‘Destination Eagle' project was launched as a partnership between the DRCC, the Essex County Field Naturalists' Club, and Bird Studies Canada (BSC).
Through this program, juvenile bald eagles were examined, banded, tested for toxins, and fitted with satellite transmitters. The DRCC sponsored two eaglets in 2006 (named Gwayah and Phoenix) that could be tracked online by visiting the BSC website. This project has confirmed that the Detroit River is a very important stopover for birds migrating from southern Ontario to Michigan and beyond.
Educational signage was also developed and installed in select locations within Canadian municipalities adjacent to the Detroit River to promote stewardship and highlight the importance of eagles in the Detroit River region.
Funding for this project was provided by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment through the Canada-Ontario Agreement as well as the Ontario Trillium Foundation.