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19 - Osprey
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Hope for the Everglades is inspired by the sight of the abundant ospreys that hunt in the area around Florida Bay. Only a few decades ago, osprey populations were crashing along with other birds like the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Use of the pesticide DDT caused the thinning of eggshells in these birds and reduced the hatching rate of these raptors. The watershed book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson brought the dangers of pesticides to the awareness of the general public. By the end of 1972, DDT had been completely banned from use in the United States. In the years since, both the osprey and bald eagle populations have recovered significantly. Today, ospreys and eagles are relatively common sights throughout the country, giving visitors hope for the future Everglades, an equally magnificent ecosystem.
Flamingo, Everglades National Park, Florida.
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