The population of bald eagles is now increasing in Indiana, and naturalists say that's a good sign for rivers and streams.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources reintroduced bald eagles to the state more than 20 years ago. Purdue Forestry professor Barney Dunning said since then, the population has taken off.

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Dunning says the ecological health of an area can be judged by the predatory bird population.

DNR biologist Dean Zimmerman said there are about 200 bald eagles living along the Wabash from Logansport to Terre Haute. He said that the disappearing eagle population in the early 20th century because of habitat loss. Zimmerman reiterates what Dunning said, the reintroduction in the 1980s provides a huge success.

"There definitely is a dramatic increase in nesting bald eagles. I know of at least 19 nests in our stretch of the Wabash, Wildcat Creek and the Tippecanoe River," Dunning said.

People also noticed bald eagles aren't coming back every day.

"That makes me feel really good. It's really awesome to see these birds. I can see why they picked them as the national bird," Zimmerman added.

Photographer Mark Bass, who loves to take photos of wildlife along the Wabash River, is also happy to see the return of eagles to the area and hopes to photograph even more of them. He sees more bald eagles coming every year.

TagsIndiana, Bald eagle, Ecosystem, habitat loss, animal extinction, Birds, eagles