Urban Eagle Nest Near My Home
Yesterday I was driving home and I was on Hwy 77 heading onto Hwy 62 going west. As I rounded the exit, I noticed a very large stick nest in a residential area. I made a note to myself to check it out this weekend. A pair of red-tailed hawks have been hanging out in this area.
Today, Bruce Fall posted to the Minnesota bird listservs that he found an eagle nest at Hwy 77 and 62. An eagle nest? Well, last week I did see an eagle thermalizing above where I saw the nest yesterday. Since it's only five minutes from where I live, I decided to go check it out today.
I know some people get all upset when you post exact raptor nest locations on the Internet because the nests can be disturbed, but this pair of bald eagles are obviously not too worried about humans disturbing them. It's right on a street in a residential neighborhood and you can't see it, but to the right in the photo is a VERY busy highway. These birds made an informed decision to nest in a busy little neighborhood. Did I mention that this is adjacent to the Minneapolis/St Paul Airport? This is a busy and NOISY neighborhood.
With all the leaves off of the trees, the nest sticks out like a sore thumb, but once the buds leaf out, it will be well hidden. The nest is easily visible from the 5-8 Club (Home of the Juicy Lucy Burger) and from a church parking lot just across the street from the club. I digiscoped the above photo from the church parking lot, if you look close you can make out her yellow bill.
While I was there, the male flew in for a quick copulation (is there any other kind for eagles) and then perched for some preening. When I took this shot, a plane came in for a landing. Whoot.
Yeah, I think it's time to take the bald eagle off of the endangered species list.
Today, Bruce Fall posted to the Minnesota bird listservs that he found an eagle nest at Hwy 77 and 62. An eagle nest? Well, last week I did see an eagle thermalizing above where I saw the nest yesterday. Since it's only five minutes from where I live, I decided to go check it out today.
I know some people get all upset when you post exact raptor nest locations on the Internet because the nests can be disturbed, but this pair of bald eagles are obviously not too worried about humans disturbing them. It's right on a street in a residential neighborhood and you can't see it, but to the right in the photo is a VERY busy highway. These birds made an informed decision to nest in a busy little neighborhood. Did I mention that this is adjacent to the Minneapolis/St Paul Airport? This is a busy and NOISY neighborhood.
With all the leaves off of the trees, the nest sticks out like a sore thumb, but once the buds leaf out, it will be well hidden. The nest is easily visible from the 5-8 Club (Home of the Juicy Lucy Burger) and from a church parking lot just across the street from the club. I digiscoped the above photo from the church parking lot, if you look close you can make out her yellow bill.
While I was there, the male flew in for a quick copulation (is there any other kind for eagles) and then perched for some preening. When I took this shot, a plane came in for a landing. Whoot.
Yeah, I think it's time to take the bald eagle off of the endangered species list.
Labels: digiscoping
posted by birdchick at 4:20 PM
18 Comments:
that so kicks butt - i'd say you had a pretty good day and my sister would love to be where you are getting all the awesome eagle shots! everytime you post em she gets an email from me.
thanks BC!
ca
"Awesome", thanks for pointing out the yellow bill, until you said look closely for the yellow bill I did not even see the white head and yellow bill at first, thanks, that is awesome pic of the nest, Monica
Cool, cool, cool!!!!!!
I hope the people in that neighborhood know just how lucky they are! Could the eagles have picked a busier spot for their nest? I don't think so! Nice photos.
And you want the Balds "off" the Endangered Species list? Do you know what will happen to this nest if this land is sold and re-developed?...the nest will be taken down.
I hope you think twice about this before you post something so blatant on your blog page.
Bald eagles will continue to be protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. But future growth of their populations may be constrained by the loss of protection of potential nest sites and suitable Bald Eagle habitat as a result of Federal de-listing.
YES, I WANT THE BALD EAGLE TAKEN OFF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT!
And I have the courage to stand behind what I say by putting my name to it, unlike anonymous.
The bald eagle population is getting so large in Minnesota, that adult eagles are killing each other for good nesting territory. According to the MN DNR bald eagle nest survey in 2005, they found 1,933 active nests in the state--there are even more in 2007.
The the goal of the Endangered Species Act is to recover and ultimately delist a species as a result of recovery. The longer the Bald Eagle stays on the Endangered Species List, the easier it is for detractors to say, "Look how long that bird has been on the list, the ESA doesn't work, let's get rid of it altogether."
The bald eagle will still be protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty which makes it illegal to fool with an active nest. Also, even if the bald eagle is taken off the Federal list, each state can decide individually if they wish to keep it on their lists. In Minnesota, it is time for the bird to come off the list. However, Indiana may want to keep it on the list--that's their option.
Eagles can handle nest removal to a point--Mother Nature does it all the time and no one gets mad at her. Case in point the nest I was lamenting that came down over by Treasure Island Casino. Those eagles already have another nest built and ready to go.
Here's another thing to consider--public perception is very different now than it was in the 1960s. When the peregrine falcon was taken off the endangered species list in 1999, one of the office buildings that had a peregrine nest box wanted it removed because the building manager felt that the birds made a mess and pea gravel from the nest box damaged some windows. The box was removed, yet the birds returned and laid eggs where the box had been. Without pea gravel and a box, the eggs rolled off the ledge and smashed on the ground--much to the dismay of tenants in the office building. They alerted the media which cause a public outcry. Thanks to a little guidance from Audubon, a new nest box was put up in away that the pea gravel would not damage windows and the building manager was no longer at her job by the end of the year.
Yes, it's time to delist the bald eagle.
The ESA will never go away, no matter what the detractors say...unless you're a detractor yourself and will fight for that too on your blog. PEFA's came off the ESA because of human intervention. The American falconers were the driving force in returning the Duck Hawk to America and Canada.
So now when you talk Balds, your driving force is that the Balds kill themselves fighting over a nest?
Give me a break --- ALL birds fight over nesting territories.
You're a poor example to the birding community and should not only quiet your thoughts on the ESA but also never list an exact location of a Bald clearly sitting on eggs (and pictures to boot). Do you blog this with Owls too?
You're a disgrace and an outspoken one too.
I just watched this on the evening news. It happened in Surrey, B.C.
A developer wanted to clear-cut and subdivide the land but was hindered by the presence of an active eagles nest. A so-called "arborist" has conveniently declared the tree diseased so now it can be cut down. They chopped off the top of it and are moving it and attaching it to a tree a few hundred yards away while the 2 eagles circled helplessly overhead. Neighbors watched in horror and with much anger. They interviewed David Hancock (Biologist) who said they have destroyed this years' nesting season and it was unlikely the eagles would use the nest again.
And this was done with the Bald Eagle still on the ESA...think about THAT once you blog again.
Just one more thing, when you want to blog and your husband so obviously posts your blog-site on "other" bird related issues as a comment (just to get more hits/viewers) you better be ready for not only the praise, but the opposition also.
Somehow I would imagine you would delete the above discussion, just to save face. But, I'll stay tuned until tomorrow.
And then to read, you called the New York poachers hot-line to turn in an old lady who shot a Northern Cardinal? Her whole story pertained to how bad she felt, after she committed the crime.
You're a poacher yourself with divulging where this Eagles nest is ---- it doesn't amuse me at all knowing there's planes, traffic & people in this neighborhood to justify "why" you would pin-point this exact location. And then to post it on your birding listserves also. Shock!
What a sad day for your Eagles in Minnesota!
It's a great day for birds in Minnesota! More people are aware of them and watching and care about preserving the outdoors.
The eagles made an informed decision when they built the nest--this is a busy neighborhood, in a very busy metro park, next to a church and a very popular restaurant. Not to mention the two highways and the airport--this particular pair of birds don't care about people getting too close.
Not all birds are delicate flowers.
Not all of us see gloom and doom in conservation. Birds are learning to adapt and live with us. We taught the peregrines to use downtown metro areas (far busier than the location this of eagle nest). After peregrines were hacked out on skyscrapers and ledges were put out, they started nesting there. Eagles are finding ways in Minnesota to nest in busy neighborhoods, right off highways successfully without our encouragement. They are nesting in the busy spots on their own.
I have no problem with people who disagree with me, as long as it isn't profane. I do have a problem with people being cowardly about it by not leaving their name--it starts to come off as bullying. I also have a problem with flame wars and people who are threatening. If you don't leave your name on future comments in this thread, I will start to delete them.
But really, if you don't like me or what I have to say, don't read the blog. You'll feel a lot better.
1. Anonymous comments are meaningless.
2. If you really felt so strongly in your belief, you wouldn't post anonymously. There is, after all, no repercussion, other that people associating your name with your opinion.
3. You're a troll, and...
4. We're making fun of you.
My pastor often says on Sunday morning, when he preaches on something controversial (from the Word of course) write me a letter, and sign it! i guess a lot of people will write letters and complain but wont own up to it with their name - if they don't sign it, he won't read it. :-)
nbb is right - we are making fun of you :-p
A friend emailed me a link to your site. Recently my wife Judy and I were driving back from Florida. As we crossed the river at LaCrosse, we saw 8 bald eagles sitting on the ice... very uplifting. Thanks for your great site.
i have some friends who live in Cotton, MN and they have an eagles nest on their land. yes, i'm totally jealous!
i'm archi ann's aunt/ca's sis,
lgf
BTW: I'm not the anonymous who has been dogging you about the EPA. I just have never set up a google/blogger ident.
ca's sis,
lgf
archi ann's aunt--
thanks for the clarification, I figured you weren't the other anonymous.
And let me say for the record that anonymous commentors are okay. I really don't want to switch to only allowing official blogger identities to comment. I'm going to hold off on that as long as I can. I like that I have readers who are civil.
Anonymous comments are fine, but if you are going to call me names, then you need to leave your name. If you are going to take me task, I need a name with that to take it seriously.
And I do listen. Remember when I was thinking of introducing Cinnamon to the neighbor's ferrets? I got warnings out the wazoo and thought better of it.
Hey BC - I also wanted to mention that i appreciated your comment about not all conservation is gloom and doom and then you said:
The eagles made an informed decision when they built the nest--this is a busy neighborhood, in a very busy metro park, next to a church and a very popular restaurant. Not to mention the two highways and the airport--this particular pair of birds don't care about people getting too close.
Not all birds are delicate flowers.
that is SO TRUE - some people don't realize these animals are not idiots, they know what they're doing and it's AWESOME that they are able to coexist with us so well as the example you have on this post shows. that's what we need!
keep up the good work!
ca
aka archi's mum
and i'm glad you allow anon comments on your blog (as i do as well) - people should just sign their name at the end of it! and i'm glad you have NBB to open a 2nd can 'o whoop ass for you too - you did a great job and he kicked in with some salient points and humor.
In our local wildlfe recovery center. It had "fallen" out if its nest before it could fly, not by accident, but because its entire nest had been removed overnight. Not even any sticks were left below the nest. The nest is believed to have been removed to make room for some construction. I was so upset. It's bad enough to destroy an eagle's nest or tree out of season (still illegal in B.C. unless the tree can be declared "unsafe") but to do so with young in the nest is unconscionable. I hope whoever did it is charged and gets the maximum fine and jail time possible.
We have had eagles in a tree near our house periodically; some years they choose this tree, and other years they choose another one. We have no shortage of eagles. Jayne Miner
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