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Posted by Ken Schneider on 22:15:34 02/21/09
In Reply to: pembroke pines eagle nest. posted by Laura Bacquie
Well, you are right to point out that uncontrolled access to the nest area is a threat to the eagles. It may be a "monster," but I did not create it. The only "publicity" I have provided was to post pictures of the birds and links to my observations on the TAS Board, and, lately, to intervene privately (with many others) to stop the construction in front of the nest. I never initiated any media contacts. Over 100 middle school students have been involved in designing and implementing a study of the effect of traffic density on the eagles' behavior. Those making observations were trained on how to act when near the nest. Their parents were required to accompany those who visited the site.
Some local people were ready to picket the construction site, not even knowing the nature of the construction or which public agency or utility was planning to do it. The issue was already going "public" without my help, but this ended up having positive effects for the eagles. Despite the fact that the nest was registered by FWC, the parties were unaware of its existence or their obligations under state FWC and federal FWS guidelines.
It took over a week for FWC (working with city, county and state entities) to determine the party responsible for the work, which turned out to be the Broward County School Board. The Florida DOT at first said they had no knowledge of any construction, but later discovered they had issued a permit to the School Board, without any requirement for city or county permits or notifications. The School Board has been very cooperative with FWC and has postponed any further construction within 330 feet of the nest. Although the site is zoned residential, the City has no plans to develop or sell it.
Channel 6 learned of the issue and worked on a story which I asked that they postpone until the eagles fledged. To my knowledge they never ran the story. Then Channel 4 ran a short piece, but included a map with the location. Likewise, I asked the Miami Herald not to reveal the location of the nest. Channel 10 was there today and I'm sure their trucks attracted even more attention. Police had to be called to control traffic and possibly ticket parking violators. The horse is out of the barn, so to speak. That is why I asked for volunteers to help educate the many visitors and minimize the disturbance.
We hope the City develops policies that support the FWC Eagle Management Plan, and I believe that Broward County Audubon is working to that end. Now the best immediate alternative appears to ask the City of Pembroke Pines to prohibit parking and pedestrian traffic on part of the south side of Pines Boulevard near and west of the nest site. The north side has a sidewalk and provides a view of the nest from about 300 feet. Parking could be permitted to the east of the nest, so that observers might cross Pines at the 208th Avenue light.
The eaglets will be branching in the next couple of weeks, and this is a particularly high risk time for them. If one of the chicks goes missing, please report it to FWC so that a biologist may be dispatched to retrieve it.
I hope you will read the link below, which includes my own reflections about the propriety of disclosing the location of Bald Eagle nests.
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