The first Hudson River eaglet in the recovery program. Photo courtesy of Peter Nye/N.Y. Dept. of Environmental Conservation Young eagles are housed in a hacking tower to prepare them for release. Photo courtesy of J. Ozzard/Wildlife Resource Center

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, U.S.A. A recent initiative of the Endangered and Nongame Species Program is the Landscape Model for Rare Species Protection. This project provides maps of critical habitats to government agencies, local planning boards, open space programs, and conservation groups to help guide the acquisition and management of these areas. In this way, local communities can become significant participants in conservation efforts. In New York state, Pittman-Robertson funds have provided essential support for the bald eagle and peregrine falcon restoration program, directed by the Department of Environmental Conservation. These populations crashed in the 1950s because of reproductive problems caused by the pesticide DDT. In the early 1960s, New York had one bald eagle nest and no breeding peregrines. 2 of 3 Click to see map