Off topic: Bald Eagle comeback complete...

[Asylum Steve]

This isn't about photography per se, but as we do a lot of bird talking here, I though some of you might find it interesting...

A cover story in yesterday's Orlando Sentinel trumpeted the fact that the American Bald Eagle may soon be removed from the national list of threatened wildlife, largely because it is thriving in Central Florida.

I was surprised to learn that Florida now has more than 1,100 nesting pairs of bald eagles, by far the most among the lower 48 states. The majority of those live in Central Florida because of the readily available fish in the many lakes here.

Nationally, the number of nesting pairs has gone from a low of about 400 in 1967 to 7,600 today. In 1995, their recovery was strong enough to change the eagle's status from endangered to threatened, and since 1999 feds have proposed dropping them off the list entirely.

To me, this is greatly uplifting news. I remember the bald eagle extinction "scare", something that seemed unthinkable considering the bird's majesty as well as historical ties to this country.

I'm sure Paul can tell us much more about this, but it seems the only downside to removal from the threatened list is there is less habitat protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act than there was under the Endangered Species Act.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with everybody. Unfortunately, I have yet to see (or photograph!) any of the bald eagles in this area, but I'll keep looking...

[kkraczek]

Hey Steve, I think that this is awesome news. I've often wondered about the nests on top of the tall trees around here. I know that they have many Bald Eagle's nests on Cape Canaveral as well. (They actually include that info in their tour!)

Thanks for a positive ending to my crazy, crazy day.

[paulnj]

Hey Steve, I think that this is awesome news. I've often wondered about the nests on top of the tall trees around here. I know that they have many Bald Eagle's nests on Cape Canaveral as well. (They actually include that info in their tour!)

Thanks for a positive ending to my crazy, crazy day.

while the BALD EAGLE has reached a very good # of NESTING PAIRS in the lower 48 compared to the low numbers of the past, the removal is due to BIG BUSINESS

the best areas STILL undeveloped are those with endangered/ threatened species on them.
mind you coastal property is privately owned in most cases. would you want 40 acres of prime real estate worth 10+ million in NJ that you CAN'T DEVELOP to your liking??? my future sister inlaw did a write up(consulting firm) on a property I just discribed!!! they wanted a hotel, they got..... AN EAGLE NEST. eagles live on BILLIONS of dollars OF PRIME UNDEVELOPED LAND..... de-list, deforest, destroy a species

I don't know the actual restrictions in place at present, but when removed it's nesting/ wintering and feeding grounds will be as protected as those of the CANADA GOOSE(ok, a bit more protected, but not much).

While the removal PROPOSAL looks to be from a successful re-establishment, it's THE future EXTINCTION of a species in my eyes. To get it relisted it will take the numbers IN THE LOWER 48 to dwindle VERY low once again. that would in my opinion mean florida and the surrounding states would be the strong hold while NJ's 43 nesting pairs would be GONE. the TERM nesting pairs has little to do with a chick hatching and reaching breeding age(5)


If anyone in the florida area wants tips on shootinmg them or finding them...... I'll search the net for a nest in your area(most likely within 2- 40 miles) or you can go to DING DARLING on sanibel and 3 out of 5 days find an eagle perched in a tree there. bald eagles are FISH EATERS , golden eagles eat anything protein based ;)

MIND YOU ......I'M PRO NATURE, SO THESE ARE MY ANTI DEFORESTATION VIEWS(though I have killed trees # ing well into the 10's of thousands myself)

[paulnj]

oh yeah....... florida people email me and i'll give you links to EXACT locations of area EAGLE NESTS ;)

paulnjmich(at) rcn(dot)com... keep the viagra spam, I GET ENOUGH

[Asylum Steve]

Paul,

Thanks for the reality check. I know the eagles' comeback is very much a bitter sweet thing. Still, I wasn't aware how strong the numbers were now, so that in itself made me feel good.

The battleground for development in Central Florida is as intense as anywhere in the country right now. There is virtually no limit to the amount of new homes they could sell here if given the chance to build them.

The battle lines are drawn and it has started to get pretty nasty. The developers are using every poitical and economic card they can possibly play to gain access to the land a little bit at a time. And it usually starts with a tiny "foot in the door" manuver whose true impact doesn't become apparent sometimes until years later (can anyone say Disney???).

The main trick they use now is to get a decent sized road inserted into an undevelpoed area, or at least an exit from a major highway. Of course, to do that they usually need to have a few symathetic city commissioners in their pockets.

"keep the viagra spam, I GET ENOUGH..."

BTW, just curious: are u saying you get enough spam, or enough viagra?

[paulnj]

"BTW, just curious: are u saying you get enough spam, or enough viagra? "


BOTH, NEITHER, ONE OF THOSE OR NONE OF THE ABOVE... you deside

[paulnj]

HERE IS THE EAGLE NEST LOCATOR 4 FLORIDA

http://wildflorida.org/eagle/eaglenests/Default.asp