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Posted by Ken Schneider on 20:36:18 07/15/08
I hope someone has a chance to monitor the Bald Eagle nest in Pembroke Pines. To my knowledge, it is the first active nest found in Broward County since DDT was abolished. It contained one eaglet when spotted from the air on April 9 of this year. I and my neighbors subsequently saw an immature eagle flying in the same general area. We kept the location secret at first, not knowing it had already been recorded by FWC.
It is presumably on private land, surrounded by residential and commercial development, and I do not know what plans may be in store for that plot. Since I am spending most of the summer in Illinois, I do not know the present status. Unless the developer has already obtained permits, there should be some restrictions on disturbance about 300 feet around the nest.
Since the nest is already registered with the state, the permitting process should assure that the presence of the nest will be brought to the attention of Broward and Pembroke Pines zoning and building officials. However, I am concerned that the Florida FWC Eagle Nest Locator Web site at: does not yet include the nest on its map.
I will go out on a limb and say that I believe that the public should be made aware of the importance of this milestone in the recovery of Florida's eagles. Public interest may also help to assure that the site is afforded whatever (weak) protection that is required under state and federal law and regulations since delisting.
The fact that the nesting was successful despite its proximity to a busy street may bode well for its persistence at that location, even if there is some additional disturbance.
The nest was/is located on Pines Boulevard, about 300 yards west of SW 208th Avenue, and about 1/4 mile east of US-27, about 75 yards in from the south side of the street (coordinates approx 26.00711N / 80.42768W). It was plainly visible from the second concrete telephone/electric pole to the west of 208th, about 30 paces west of a concrete slab that is on the south side of Pines Boulevard. This link includes my photo of the nest.
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