PHOTO OF THE DAY: Bald eagles along the St. Clair

Journal staff Bald eagles have returned to their popular hangout spot along the St. Clair River. Corunna resident Shaun Antle captured these images recently at Guthrie Park in Corunna.

Journal staff

Bald eagles have returned to their popular hangout spot along the St. Clair River.

Corunna resident Shaun Antle captured these images recently at Guthrie Park in Corunna.

“It’s crazy because 10-11 years ago, there were none,” said the avid nature photographer. “They have slowly climbed back to strong numbers.”

Nature enthusiasts and photographers can often be spotted perched along the St. Clair River, waiting to catch a glimpse of the birds, near the north tip of Stag Island and nearby Corunna.

“Last year, I counted, at one time, 32 different bald eagles either flying or sitting in trees along the river in and around Stag Island,” Antle said.

The species was nearly wiped out from the accumulation of DDT and other chemicals in their food chain, but bounced back after an extensive re-introduction program and environmental cleanup efforts, and can once again be seen in much of southern Ontario.