I grew up with Eagles, my high school mascot. However, I have maybe only seen a real one once or twice. What surprised me, even more, is that spotting an eagle in Kentucky is extremely rare, until now. 

The reason sightings were so rare, is because according to Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, there was only one documented eagle nest in 1986. This year, there are 187. The sightings were also due to hacking. No, not the hacking you're thinking of in terms of today's definition, but hacking as in releasing young eagles into the wild.

Today, those eagles that were hacked are reproducing on their own, thus their population has significantly grown. Bald eagles are more commonly spotted in Western Kentucky. Nests are now found in the Louisville area.

Though bald eagles were removed from the endangered and threated species list in Kentucky in 2007, they are still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald Eagle Protection Act. They also alert us important things in the environment.

The eagle population is closely monitored and if you see an eagle next, make sure you contact Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1939.