Eagles Nest

[TomSeller]

The species has been removed from the endangered and threatened species list, but it is still protected. Part of the language of the "Bald Eagle Protection Act" includes "disturbing" bald eagles. It could be argued that you are disturbing the nesting eagles by being too close.
You mentioned the "fish and wildlife officers" but you didn't mention if it was federal or state. I don't know what state you live in and/or if they (local authorities) have laws protecting bald eagles.
I would avoid the nest until the eaglets are fledged if you can't find out if you are in fact in violation of any laws.
I personally do my best to avoid conflicts with anyone that has a badge. They like it when you give them a reason for wearing it.

Federal. Whether they have a badge or not, they need to obey the law. They said their superior would give me a call but no one ever did. My guess is these guys did not know the law. BTW, it was an observation tree the eagles were in and I was under, not the nesting tree. While the officers were there, the eagles started mating on a branch about 100' up. I certainly was not bothering them. Oh, and it was a Saturday, probably just Gubbamint workers sucking up overtime pay with no benefit to anyone or any eagle.

 

[RobertBrown]

Yea probably was, and your right about the knowledge too. But, they were there. They know about the nest and it's apparent that they are watching it. I don't know what it means in terms of dollars and cents to you. All I'm saying is; If you don't have to go near it.....don't go near it.
What part of the country are you in anyway?

 

[ovrszd]

Do you know if there is a distance limitation now?The reason I ask is that I have a pair of balds nesting in my trees. I was working the field below their observation tree the other day and went to back up and almost ran over two dept of fish and wildlife officers. Seems they would know better than to walk onto my property and walk up behind me on my tractor, but they did. I stopped the engine and asked if I could help them. They said I could not work within 650' but could not come up with any literature to prove it. I have had eagles on the property for 20 years and consider them distant pets. They help clean up dead calves, dead coyotes (don't ask) etc. and I don't mind them a bit ( except when they killed the barn owl) nor do they mind me. But I have never been told I need to stay back from the trees.

Tom, I had to read this twice to make sure I understood correctly. Two Game Wardens came onto your property within 650ft of a nest to tell you that YOU could not work within 650ft of said nest???I don't have any nests in my area. But if I did, I'd feel just like you about them. We (the eagles and I) might slightly disagree ocassionally concerning what other species would be allowed in the area. But that's something could be tolerated on both our parts.

 

[namyessam]

Third Decorah IA. eagle has hatched today. :http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

 

[TomSeller]

Tom, I had to read this twice to make sure I understood correctly. Two Game Wardens came onto your property within 650ft of a nest to tell you that YOU could not work within 650ft of said nest???I don't have any nests in my area. But if I did, I'd feel just like you about them. We (the eagles and I) might slightly disagree ocassionally concerning what other species would be allowed in the area. But that's something could be tolerated on both our parts.

No, the nest is thousands of feet away from where I was working. They came onto my property when I was working under a tree the eagles simply roost in to look for prey. They made an assumption there was a nest in the immediate vicinity but there is not. See attached picture, no nest there.

They did tell me I could not work within 650' of the nest, but I was nowhere near it nor have I been. The eagles follow me from field to field to catch prey I stir up or attract, often other birds. I have had a nesting pair (two sets I think) for 20 years, I like them there and they obviously like being there. My property is on the local bird watching tour and has been for years so you would think these guys would have known that (their office is 5 miles away).

I still would like to know if there are regs on the distance if anyone knows.

 

[ovrszd]

No, the nest is thousands of feet away from where I was working. They came onto my property when I was working under a tree the eagles simply roost in to look for prey. They made an assumption there was a nest in the immediate vicinity but there is not. See attached picture, no nest there.

They did tell me I could not work within 650' of the nest, but I was nowhere near it nor have I been.

We have a lot of this in our government today. Those two need adjusted as to their purpose. And if it's their boss that's leading the charge, he/she needs adjusted as well. My guess would be they never told their superiors about this. After some thought they probably realized how stupid they were being. Pretty sad.

Thanks for your support of the wildlife in your area. Very few people realize that the land owners are who feed and provide shelter for all wildlife!!!

In my area it's corn, soybeans and hay crops. Wonder how many pounds of those a 150lb Deer eats in a year??

 

[TomSeller]

Thanks for your support of the wildlife in your area. Very few people realize that the land owners are who feed and provide shelter for all wildlife!!!

Sometimes right aver the young take flight I will see the parents teaching the young to kill and eat prey near the barn. The barn seems to be a collection point for birds on the roof so it is a good place to practice. It is quite a sight. I just go around the barn the other way to avoid getting too close to them as I don't want them to get used to humans. Same goes when I see them roosting on a tube gate, I just take a different route to the field I am headed.

 

[ovrszd]

Sometimes right aver the young take flight I will see the parents teaching the young to kill and eat prey near the barn. The barn seems to be a collection point for birds on the roof so it is a good place to practice. It is quite a sight. I just go around the barn the other way to avoid getting too close to them as I don't want them to get used to humans. Same goes when I see them roosting on a tube gate, I just take a different route to the field I am headed.

Well Tom, I say again, thanks for your support of wildlife. We can all live together. All we gotta do is respect them. Just as you described above.

 

[TomSeller]

Well Tom, I say again, thanks for your support of wildlife. We can all live together. All we gotta do is respect them. Just as you described above.

Right, my eagles and I have a distant relationship.

 

[ohno]

Even if there chopped up in one of the thousands of wind mills?