Urban Birds | Cleveland Museum of Natural History

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has long been involved in protecting local bird populations—perhaps most notably in the 1970s, when staff Harvey Webster and Carl Lutzmann launched a bald eagle breeding program. This program, which was the first to successfully breed bald eagles in captivity, helped kickstart the recovery of this iconic species.

Bald Eagle Recovery

Take a look back at the Museum's pioneering bald eagle breeding program, developed in the mid-1970s. The program's success fueled similar captive-breeding initiatives around the country, serving as a model for other organizations to expand upon. Bald eagles, once a federally threatened species, are now flourishing in Ohio and across the nation.

Ohio Lights Out

Every spring and fall, millions of birds migrate through Ohio on their way to or from their breeding grounds. Many birds migrate at night, and lights on tall buildings or aimed at the sky can disorient them and draw them into the buildings. As a result, many birds strike windows or circle buildings until they fall from exhaustion. Ohio Lights Out is working to change that.