The Channel Islands, an eight-island chain off the coast of Southern California, have served as nesting sites for a variety of birds, including the bald eagle. In the nineteenth century, the ranchers that settled on the islands considered the eagles a threat to their livestock. The ranchers killed off a lot of them. In addition, collectors furthered the eagle’s demise by taking eggs as souvenirs. Though these interventions decreased the birds’ population, their biggest threat came from the use of DDT in the early to mid-twentieth century. By 1980, no bald eagles remained in Southern California.

In 1962, Rachel Carson published her influential book Silent Spring. Carson explained how DDT and other toxins negatively affected ecosystems throughout the United States – particularly harming the reproduction of many bird species. Her book brought about an understanding of the way DDT affected the environment. Public response spawned a movement of environmental...

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