SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Coastal Georgia saw a 73% eagle nest success rate in 2025, boasting an estimated 83 eaglets in 2025.
This season, the Coastal Empire recorded five new nests, bringing the total number of occupied nests to 81. Out of these, 59 nests were deemed successful, as reported by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
While the coast saw an average success rate, southwest Georgia saw slightly lower success rates.
While the coastal area is surveyed annually, other areas, such as the southwest, have surveys conducted at least every second year. Two years back, the success rate in the southwestern region was at 75%.
This is likely due to the eagles have more food resources in estuaries on the coast versus other regions, survey leader Bob Sargent said.
The decrease might be due to damage from storms like Helene and Milton in 2024, according to Sargent’s statement to the DNR. Additionally, it could be a delayed effect of avian influenza, which impacted the coast in 2022.
“I say delayed because eagle mortalities and nest failures from the initial outbreak of the disease were confined to the coastal counties,” Sargent told DNR. “But we know from necropsy reports this past winter that the disease has since spread to inland eagles, especially so among birds in the Chattahoochee watershed.”
Eagle nesting on the coast did bounce back from the illness, which may bode well for southwestern nesting rates.
While the southwestern region is below average, eagles are still flying high in the Peach State, DNR officials said. Twenty-five years ago, only 55 nest territories were reported in Georgia, now Georgia has maintained 200 nest territories a year for 10 years, officials reported.
The public is encouraged to report eagle nests and can do so by clicking or tapping here, calling (478) 994-1438) or emailing bob.sargent@dnr.ga.gov.
To support the conservation of bald eagles and hundreds of other Georgia plants and animals, you can purchase or renew an eagle or monarch license plate or renew these, officials said. You can also renew older hummingbird license plates.
