Two bald eagles born in a nest near a PP&L, Inc. power plant have taken their first flight - strong evidence of the comeback cited by President Clinton recently when he announced plans to remove the bald eagle from the endangered species list.

"This is the first successful bald eagle nest on PP&L, property," said Mark Arbogast, superintendent of the nature and recreation area that surrounds the Holtwood power plant along the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County.

"The first flight is an important milestone for these young eagles, and a key milestone in PP&L's restoration efforts for threatened species," Arbogast said. "We are proud to be a part of the strong comeback this majestic species is making nationwide."

President Clinton, saying that the bald eagle is "back from the brink," announced plans over the July 4 weekend to remove our national bird from the endangered species list. He credited good environmental stewardship nationwide as the reason for the bird's resurgence.

Named America's national bird in 1782, the bald eagle was threatened with extinction by hunting, loss of habitat and use of the pesticide DDT. In 1963, only 417 breeding pairs remained in the lower 48 states. Today, that number has climbed to 5,800, including the pair that set up housekeeping on a transmission tower at Holtwood.

"For the next several weeks, the adults will be teaching the young eagles to hunt, and they'll be practicing flying as their feathers grow," said Arbogast. "Then, they'll be on their own."

If all goes well, the adult eagles will return to their nest next year and breed again, Arbogast said, and the juveniles will develop into mature eagles and seek mates of their own after a few years.

As part of its environmental stewardship program, PP&L has been helping the Pennsylvania Game Commission monitor the nest and keep curious visitors from getting too close. "We're happy to do anything we can to help the bald eagle population increase," Arbogast said.

PP&L has played host to several other bald eagle nests at Holtwood and at other company nature and recreation areas in years past, but those nests were not successful in producing baby eagles that eventually left the nest. PP&L also has done extensive work with osprey and peregrine falcons, and recently completed work on its Holtwood Hydroelectric Dam to allow American shad to get over the dam on their annual migration up the Susquehanna.

"Our species restoration work is part of our philosophy to operate in harmony with the environment," said Arbogast. "It's just one component of our overall environmental program."

Note to editors: In cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and to protect the bald eagles from excessive public contact, PP&L will not reveal the location of the nest.