A welcome inhabitant

At one point, they were in danger of disappearing entirely. Because

of development and the use of pesticides that damaged eggs, the bald

eagle -- the only eagle unique to North America -- ended up on the

endangered species list, with few remaining along the Southern

California coast and nearby islands where they once thrived. Across

the nation in 1963, there were only 417 known breeding pairs.

Bans on pesticides and intensive breeding programs, including one

on Catalina Island, have helped the national symbol make a remarkable

comeback. There are now almost 7,700 breeding pairs in America. It is

a success story that has been on display in the past week along

Huntington Beach’s shoreline.

A lone bald eagle has been making his -- scientists say it’s an

unmated male, weighing about 8 or 9 pounds -- majestic way along the

coast. “K13,” as scientists call him, was released in 2001 as part of

the Catalina program.

Dozens of lucky people have seen the bird. He’s been spotted

perched on telephone poles, in the Bolsa Chica and, of course, in

flight.

No one is quite sure how long he might stay. He could return with

ease to Catalina. He could choose to remain, perhaps splitting time

between Bolsa Chica, Fairview Park in Costa Mesa and the Upper

Newport Bay.

If he does, we should consider ourselves lucky. Not only has the

effort to save the bird been successful, but we will get a chance to

see this all-too rare symbol of the country up close. It’s also a

reminder, if one were needed, why the fight to keep the Bolsa Chica

mostly free of development has been so important.