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New plan in place to keep bald eagles plentiful in North Country and around the state

Posted 7/14/16

New York has a revised conservation plan for the bald eagle, still listed as a threatened species in New York but continuing to make a remarkable recovery in St. Lawrence County and across the state. …

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New plan in place to keep bald eagles plentiful in North Country and around the state

Posted

New York has a revised conservation plan for the bald eagle, still listed as a threatened species in New York but continuing to make a remarkable recovery in St. Lawrence County and across the state.

There was a time not long ago when sightings of bald eagles in the North Country were rare.

By the middle of the last century, the very existence of the U.S. National Emblem was seriously threatened due to the broad use of some insecticides and indiscriminate hunting of the majestic birds.

Now it’s not unusual at all to see one or a pair. In the last two years, NorthCountryNow.com has received pictures of bald eagles, feeding on a riverbank or perched on a branch, from Parishville, Black Lake, Gouverneur, Waddington, Brasher, Lisbon, Canton, Massena, Oswegatchie, Winthrop, Colton, and Morristown.

“New York State has been a leader in the restoration and recovery of the bald eagle in the northeast United States,” State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos said.

“We recently confirmed that New York has been home to the longest living wild bald eagle on record in the United States,” he said.

“This confirms that New York’s rivers, lakes and forests are being maintained at a level capable of supporting our nation’s symbol. This plan will help guide the perpetuation of the bald eagle and ensure a healthy population in the state,” he said.

The new state conservation plan serves as a guide for landowners, resource managers, local government agencies, and other stakeholders to manage and perpetuate the bald eagle and its habitat in New York. This plan also informs the public of actions recommended to achieve the goal of a sustainable, healthy bald eagle population, including its essential habitat and the ecosystems it depends upon.

The plan’s objectives are to maintain a statewide average breeding bald eagle population of at least 200 breeding pairs, and maintaining protection of the significant wintering bald eagle population, easily observed at many spots near bodies of water in St. Lawrence County.

The plan emphasizes minimizing human interference, especially nest sites, and protecting habitat.

According to the plan, motorized activity such as jet skis, motorboats, other vehicles, manned and unmanned aircraft such as drones, ATVs and snowmobiles, as well as non-motorized activities, such as hiking, hunting, bird watching, camping, fishing, photography and paddling, should all take place outside a minimum 330-foot buffer zone unless birds have demonstrated a tolerance for these activities. In some cases, the DEC may recommend a 660-foot buffer or larger. Additionally, any air traffic should be restricted to no closer than a quarter-mile from and at least 1,000 feet above the level of the nest site. Eagles are particularly sensitive to disturbances from above.

They recommend observations at bald eagle nests be made quietly, at a distance -- outside of the minimum 330-foot buffer -- using binoculars or a spotting scope.

Violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, as amended in 1972, can incur civil penalties of $5,000 or one year imprisonment with $10,000 or not more than two years in prison for a second conviction. Felony convictions carry a maximum fine of $250,000 or two years of imprisonment. The fine doubles for an organization. Rewards are provided for information leading to arrest and conviction for violation of the law. Violators may be subject to additional fines under New York State Environmental Conservation Law.

The final plan and additional information on bald eagles, such as specific recommended actions, can be found on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/74052.html.