from Senator Chris Van Hollen:

Thanks to The Baltimore Sun editorial page for their Valentine's Day tribute to our great state this morning -- including this little gem that the bay region is now home to the largest concentration in the lower 48 states of nesting pairs of our national symbol the Bald Eagle -- 1400 in Maryland alone. Forty five years ago, that was down to just 44 pairs, but preservation efforts plus the federal ban on DDT. the pesticide that caused eagle shells to become thin, made the difference. A reminder of the natural beauty and rich bio-diversity of our state and the vital contributions of environmental protection to preserving these natural treasures and protecting our wildlife.