In east TN, going from Jefferson Co. into Cocke Co. crossing the bridge over Douglas lake on 25, there were Bald Eagles in a man-made platform for years. Last year...nothing. This year...Ospreys. I've talked to 5 local TWRA guys. No idea. Basic research...Ospreys are pretty bad ass.
We started getting them about 25 yrs ago, before that it was just typical eagles, hawks and falcons. But they’ve surged. There are islands in a reservoir designated as bird sanctuaries and that had def helped their numbers grow. On the drive up into Rocky Mountain National Park you’ll see dozens of the man-made platforms and they all have an osprey family in them.
I've got a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk out back trying to master his "screach" for the last few weeks. He's getting it! Love watching the birds.
We get red tailed hawks occasionally in our yard, I see eagles often, and the golden eagles are easily seen on the Highway in winter feasting on roadkill. I usually see bald eagles flying near lakes and ponds.