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Stumbling upon an eagle threat

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by jnadler on Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:03 pm

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here's a new concern . . . while kayaking and photographing bald eagles in NY State's mid-Hudson River region. I was observing two different active nests from a distance, when a small engine sea plane buzzed the nests and flew within ten feet above the water. I just learned that local pilots and those from a New Jersey flight school use these coves with islands for practice. Same area as New York's re-emerging eagle nesting population. A local birding expert told me that concerns raised with the FAA have gone unanswered. Same nest was vacated with eaglets several years ago, possibly due to this aircraft traffic.

Jeff Nadler
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by Guy Tal on Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:14 pm

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I would think the most effective way to elicit a response is to raise awareness. You may want to contact some of the local papers and TV stations to see if they'd be interested in doing an investigative report. If you volunteer your guide services they may be open to spending a couple of hours with you documenting it.

Guy

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by E.J. Peiker on Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:40 pm

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The FAA won't do anything until there is an accident attributed by the NTSC to the Eagles (bird strike breaks windshield, incapacitates pilot, plane crashes, pilot dies). then they will embark on getting the FWS to remove the Eagle nests. That's how this short sihgted beurocracy works.

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by jnadler on Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:07 pm

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E.J. Peiker wrote:The FAA won't do anything until there is an accident attributed by the NTSC to the Eagles (bird strike breaks windshield, incapacitates pilot, plane crashes, pilot dies). then they will embark on getting the FWS to remove the Eagle nests. That's how this short sihgted beurocracy works.

We are going to try and contact the pilots directly and see if they will practice on an alternate course.

Jeff Nadler
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by Kim Kaiser on Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:39 pm

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get a video camera and film em,, and the plane numbers,,,the action EJ states may be the real procedure but films llike that above have changed a lot of things over the years,,,,,,police beatings,,rodney king,,thieveing,,,it has made contractors make repairs to otherwise unanswered pleas by homeowners,,it may be worth a try,,

THE-SILVERTIP.COM Lodging, Gallery, Gardiner, MT

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by jnadler on Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:48 pm

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Kim Kaiser wrote:get a video camera and film em,, and the plane numbers,,,the action EJ states may be the real procedure but films llike that above have changed a lot of things over the years,,,,,,police beatings,,rodney king,,thieveing,,,it has made contractors make repairs to otherwise unanswered pleas by homeowners,,it may be worth a try,,

What a coincidence Kim. A kayaking outfitter plans on keeping his eye out, with a video camera! Thanks

Jeff Nadler
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by Paul Fusco on Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:56 am

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Jeff -

Contact the USF&WS and the NY DEC. Eagles are still listed as a threatened species in the lower 48 and what is happening seems to be a violation of the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Let us know how it goes.

- Paul

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by jnadler on Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:23 pm

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An e-mail response from officials looks encouraging:

"This constitutes harrassment of a federal and state "threatened" species and
is illegal and subject to stiff fines and jail. We can pursue this, and wish to (talking to the subject pilots at this point). What we need is information: airplane numbers; those large letter-numbers on the side. With those, we can track these pilots down. Any information at all that anyone can provide, please direct to me (contact info below). If you know who the pilots are, where they live, where they fly out of, etc. "

Jeff Nadler
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by Penney Goodwin on Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:38 pm

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Jeff, it's highly unlikely that the operators of any respectable flight school are aware of their disturbance of nesting eagles (laws notwithstanding) nor would the pilots (or students). I can't imagine any pilot who would continue practicing in the same area if in fact they were aware...a few phone calls to flight schools in the area might be enough to curtail the practice before needing to contact agencies...not to be confused with the sport of "buzzing" golfers.