Statement by Alexander R. Brash, president of Connecticut Audubon Society, on the killing of a Bald Eagle in Rocky Hill

Photo courtesy of Sandee Harraden

“The Connecticut Audubon Society and its thousands of members are outraged at this heinous crime. Bald Eagles are attempting to make a comeback in our state and we can’t afford to lose even one of this beautiful species. Almost 150 Bald Eagles spend the winter here and three dozen or so nest and raise their young here – which indicates that Connecticut now has ample food and habitat for these magnificent birds.

“We hope that whoever killed this Bald Eagle is brought to justice for the brazen disregard of our national emblem and lack of appreciation of the beauty and ecological value of this species.”

The first successful nesting of Bald Eagles in Connecticut since their decimation by pesticides was in 1992. In 2014, 32 successful eagle nests in Connecticut produced 57 hatchlings.

In recent years, the mid-winter Bald Eagle survey has documented the presence of 108, 104, 93, 107 and 143 eagles in Connecticut, from 2010-2014.