The eagles, which had disappeared from southern New England by the turn of the century, are not only making a comeback in rural areas, they are edging into the cities. The problem is there is just not that much cover left along the river. The eaglets are the second generation to be hatched along the river since a state reintroduction effort produced its first chick in 1986. Neighboring states are also benefitting. Eagles now nesting on the river just over the Connecticut and New Hampshire borders were chicks hatched in Massachusetts, French said.
Eagles usually add to the same nest year after year, but sometimes they seem to like a change.
A pair in Hadley, for example, also have a nest on the Northampton side of the river that they used last year. And one pair at the Quabbin Reservoir has six nests. The state has counted 11 active eagle nests, up from nine last year, including five pairs at Quabbin Reservoir. While bald eagles are flourishing along the Connecticut River, a popular pair of peregrine falcons that tried a downtown Springfield bridge apparently didn't fare as well. Biologists have been unable to locate the nest or chicks.