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<\/a>Thoughts & Projects on a Saving Bald Eagle Nest Trees & and Bald Eagle Habitat<\/b> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n\u201cThe Creation of Bald Eagle Preserves\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201c\u2026it breathes truth into our slogan: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Beautiful British Columbia\u201d!<\/span><\/p>\n A Bald Eagle Nest and Nest Tree is the heart of bald eagle territory and this proposal is to preserve existing and develop future bald eagle nesting areas, by establishing a list of appropriate trees that can be modified or preserved for future Bald Eagle Preserves. <\/b><\/p>\n The short term we are discussing: <\/span><\/p>\n By David Hancock, \u00a0Myles Lamont — Hancock Wildlife Foundation<\/b><\/p>\n Many urban and suburban environments, particularly the Greater Vancouver lower Fraser Valley, provide incredibly productive bald eagle habitat for both the huge wintering eagle population that passes through the area but equally important this region house the densest bald eagle breeding population in North America.<\/b><\/p>\n For the migrating and wintering bald eagles <\/b>the important habitat components are the seasonal availability of wild spawning salmon, herring and oolachin. \u00a0This is of course supplemented by protein dumps at such artificial sites as urban landfills, agricultural offal and winter die-off\u2019s, and fish carcasses from artificial spawning channels, and more recently at sites where people regularly feed eagles. \u00a0Our migrating eagles also need woodlands and forests for important day and night roosts.<\/span><\/p>\n The incredible nesting density of bald eagles in the Lower Mainland <\/b>is due to the naturally productive intertidal zone surrounding the region, the even more productive fresh waterways that bisect the entire region, both of natural creeks but greatly supplemented by an extensive network of ditches and dykes that direct and hold water but more importantly host a myriad of aquatic and upland species of wildlife that feed eagles throughout the lower mainland. \u00a0Additionally, but most certainly not to be overlooked is the urban production of vermin and the constant delivery of road-kills that feed eagles. And finally, just as a multi-billion dollar tax generating industry provides tonnes of food for seed-eating birds and squirrels and suet-eating woodpeckers and insectivores, there is a growing awareness of the delight of feeding the scavenging bald eagles. <\/span><\/p>\n However, the most notable missing element<\/b> in the breeding habitat of bald eagles is the ever-diminishing supply of large trees capable of supporting a large bald eagle nest. This is a proposal to retain and bring back these trees and their surrounding habitat for eagles and other species.<\/span><\/p>\n David Hancock, an eagle biologist for over 50 years, <\/b>an educator and conservationist, has increasingly been called in to \u201cSpeak for Eagles\u201d. \u00a0These calls largely come in response to the needs of industry or development to \u2018cut down an active bald eagle nest\u2019. \u00a0While this development action is limited by Clauses of the Wildlife Act that offer \u201cprotection from disturbing or destroying bald eagle nests and habitat\u201d \u00a0the ecological issues, and the human values, are much bigger.<\/span> \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n The Greater Vancouver \u2013 Lower Fraser Valley<\/b> is the site of the Fraser River estuary, the heart of the Pacific Flyway, \u00a0is the resident and transient home of hundreds of millions of shorebirds, waterfowl and passerines that utilize the area. \u00a0We residents of this incredibly productive eco-system sit at the confluence of Canada\u2019s most productive river as it nourishes the most productive \u00a0intertidal zone of the world. This is why we are home to the continents best salmon runs, provide the gateway for millions of migrants between part of their life in the United States or across South America and their northern breeding grounds and why we house the largest collection of bald eagles ever known. \u00a0It is not just the purity of this river system and the waters of the Salish Sea that support our wildlife and our human life, it is how we allow this great interaction between river and sea to interact \u2013 to produce the great diversity of plant and animal life that shares this area that really is the \u2018essence of providing the total ecological sustainability\u2019 that both supports us, but almost as importantly \u2018attracts us\u2019 to this area. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beautiful British Columbia<\/i><\/b> is more than a tourist slogan. \u00a0It is that part of the world that still excites our primal senses, our appreciation for wild beauty \u2013 our inherent recognition that we share at great responsibility one of the world\u2019s finest most productive jewels. \u00a0Mitigation of habitat, particularly surrounding an iconic bald eagle nest, is an indicator that Beautiful British Columbia is far richer than the sum of its parts. We need development but not at the exclusion of everything that makes British Columbia beautiful and desirable. \u00a0\u00a0Bald Eagle Nests and their surrounding habitat are a wonderful reminder to us that we need to protect the whole! — or at least the remaining meaningful bits of it!<\/span><\/p>\n What is a Bald Eagle Preserve? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n How big does a Bald Eagle Preserve need to be?<\/b><\/p>\n Huge trees capable of supporting a bald eagle nest are essential to sustaining bald eagles through time. \u00a0\u00a0A bald eagle territory can include a several kilometers of linear shoreline or geographical area that supports the different ecological needs of bald eagles: \u00a0for food gathering, for resting and for nesting. The <\/span>Bald Eagle Preserve<\/i><\/b> could be as small as a single tree that is necessary to sustain the breeding eagles that effectively forage and rest in adjacent common areas where no other \u00a0nest structure exists. A single isolated tree can be the crucial element to support an entire nearby public area where eagles find all their food and resting areas \u2013 and that single \u2018nest-tree element\u2019 completes the eagle habitat needs. In other areas, a <\/span>Bald Eagle Preserve<\/i><\/b> can draw attention to protection of an entire diverse ecosystem that support hundreds of plants and animals — including the iconic Bald Eagle. \u00a0While any and every protected area preserves a multitude of plants and animals we have named this kind of preserve featuring a bald eagle nest or potential nest tree after its popular and very visible headliner! <\/span><\/p>\n Between saving a \u2018single nest tree\u2019 \u00a0or preserving a more ecologically diverse \u2018parkland\u2019 we are attempting to preserve expanding ecological units that will generate diverse habitat and the 100 through 500 years of special trees that will support bald eagles and other wildlife for the following generations. These small to mid-sized units might be City, Municipal or Provincial owned or privately or corporately owned. \u00a0We all need trees, shrub lands, grasslands and waterways to feel whole. It is wondrous to visit a park, walk a public walkway or riverside trail and at times for many, it is even more rewarding, to see a single eagle in a single tree sharing our town. It breathes truth into Beautiful British Columbia.<\/span><\/p>\n What are the broad habitat requirements for a <\/b>Bald Eagle Preserve<\/i><\/b>: <\/b><\/p>\n from a \u2018single tree\u2019, \u00a0a small piece of land to a sizeable piece of parkland: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The ecological considerations would include:<\/b><\/p>\n (i) \u00a0Evaluation of each site to best understand how it should cater <\/span><\/p>\n to local plant and wildlife needs.<\/span><\/p>\n (ii) \u00a0develop the broadest ecological support possible for that site, \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (iii) \u00a0develop diverse and long lasting trees that will over generations<\/span><\/p>\n develop into potential eagle nest trees, wildlife trees and their <\/span><\/p>\n surrounding \u00a0diverse habitats of other plants and animals.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0This tree retention and plantings are at the heart of this \u00a0<\/span>Tree Bank<\/i><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Developing a Regional Tree Bank Committee:<\/b><\/p>\n We anticipate organizing a Regional Tree Bank Committee. \u00a0<\/b>This committee would represent governments, conservation and community groups to decide on the details of each sites short and long term ecological needs<\/span>. \u00a0<\/b>An individual, \u00a0city or regional park might like assistance in developing a Tree Bank or actually modifying a selected tree. \u00a0This committee could make recommendations to the existing <\/span>Hancock Wildlife Foundation<\/i><\/b> Bald Eagle Mitigation Fund<\/i><\/b> to support their efforts. (Note: this HWFBEM Fund is dealt with elsewhere.)<\/span><\/p>\n Who administers a Bald Eagle Preserve? <\/b><\/p>\n The Hancock Wildlife Foundation has been active for many years in both preserving bald eagle nests and supplementing trees to support new or falling nests. \u00a0Over this period have come opportunities for the HWF to recommend preserving bald eagle nests on private, corporate and government properties. Recently one of these \u00a0served sites have been given the \u201cCommunity Recognition as an official <\/span>Bald Eagle Preserve<\/i><\/b> in the City of Surrey.<\/span> \u00a0<\/i><\/b>WE are seeking to have set aside more habitat to support neighborhood wildlife and particularly bald eagles. <\/span><\/p>\n In other negotiations our HWF plans for mitigation of bald eagle nests that were to be removed or disturbed have involved modification of trees on government land. \u00a0These sites have not been given specific recognition as <\/span>\u201cBald Eagle Preserves\u201d<\/i><\/b> \u00a0but eagle nest trees have been preserved. \u00a0This option gives recognition of the positive relationship between developers, \u00a0the different levels of government and has preserved at least for some time the integrity of the nesting pair of eagles or presentation of options of nest nesting sites for new pairs. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Similarly, the HWF has modified trees to support bald eagle nests on private lands but no official or even private recognition has officially been offered. Recognition of the landowner in these efforts might well be honored by designating these sites as <\/span>\u201cPrivate Bald Eagle Preserves\u201d.<\/i><\/b> \u00a0The name used might be <\/span>\u201cPrivate Bald Eagle Nest Preserve\u201d.<\/i><\/b> \u00a0And this recognition might well be given through a warm handshake, a thank you from the eagles and good thoughts from us \u2013 nothing else needed. \u00a0\u00a0This would not likely get, or by desire, have any legal recognition. The temporal nature of trees and eagle nests might well suggest that such a site might well <\/span>\u201cbe here today and gone tomorrow\u201d <\/b>and any legal description might be unnecessary and undesirable. <\/span><\/p>\n Note:<\/i><\/b> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>The HWF ecological plans surrounding nest mitigation have already incorporated cooperation with a private nursery to have on hand a ready supply of approved trees and shrubs for placement in support of bald eagle nest sites. \u00a0The Committee might well offer advice or even other trees to be planted around an existing nest to be mature 75 to 100 years later \u2013 all part of our long-term habitat recommendations.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Development of Plans in Considering Bald Eagle Nest Mitigation.<\/b><\/p>\n The following outlines some preliminary ecological and socio-economic considerations needed to be addressed in planning the <\/span>Bald Eagle Tree Bank<\/i><\/b> and the associated <\/span>Bald Eagle Preserves<\/i><\/b> .<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1: \u00a0Making up for the Past!<\/b><\/p>\n Humans have historically displaced or defiled wildness by their occupation from the beginning of time. \u00a0As we have learned, past rewards from destroying our futures ecology and lowering our own economic ecological sustainability can no longer continue if humans are to survive. \u00a0And we want more than our immediate survival. We have evolved into a conscience beings that realizes our own future is dependent upon treating the world on the basis of ecological sustainability. \u00a0I throw in this call for recognition because just going forward sustainably is not enough. Today we need to plan on the basis of making up for our <\/span>indiscretion<\/span> of the past. \u00a0Today\u2019s mitigations must make a contribution to righting the past\u2019s errors. \u00a0A principle advanced for the past many years has been when an eagles nest is removed, \u00a0the mitigation needs to try and compensate the environment with 3 improvement options. Three instead of one \u00a0— indeed. First, we cannot expect to get our mitigation options always correct by the eagles or other habitat standards that we \u2018hope to understand\u2019. \u00a0Sometimes we may miss the mark and some additional insurance is needed. Second, what is at the time a locally available option may change from the eagles perspective. \u00a0\u00a0So the mitigation criteria is to give our best judgement as to what to do locally to facilitate the continuation of that nesting pair and territory but then to consider options elsewhere as they may be our best and only hope. \u00a0Finally, on top of this we want this mitigation to help make up for our past ecological disturbances that offered no mitigation. A key here is that today we have already so disturbed much of the wildness that our efforts today must attempt to reach a little further to improve existing and additional habitat.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2: \u00a0\u00a0Who Can Most Afford Mitigation?<\/b><\/p>\n Here the issue is who can legally, financially and morally be held responsible or afford mitigation for natures loss. \u00a0\u00a0Or turned around, the easy answer is all of us pay for the loss of quality habitat, but who can afford to now pay for the mitigation? \u00a0In most cases some industry or developer is gaining some increased value to his project through removal of habitat or a bald eagle nest. \u00a0Here mitigation is essential, the responsibility easily assigned and via public acceptance-pressure, it is easily and usually willingly extracted. \u00a0\u00a0If the property owner is a government it is also quite easy to say the government \u2013 us — should pay some equivalency towards replenishing the habitat and nest. \u00a0The real rub comes when some individual wants to remove a nest for some reason, opening up a view etc. This option is still a fairly easy choice. This removal perhaps should not happen at all or perhaps he should pay some mitigation costs. He buys the bigger view, we get to mitigate this loss elsewhere. \u00a0The easy rub comes when an eagles nest tree becomes a risk to life. Perhaps the tree is rotted to the core and offers a risk to nearby houses. The decision, like that of removing a bald eagle nest beside an airport runway, seems to favor commonsense and the removal permits are usually issued and I have always supported such an effort. \u00a0This again does not remove options of some mitigation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3: \u00a0\u00a0What is the Time Period over which Mitigation is Valuated. <\/b><\/p>\n Confusing all the above issues of removing the \u2018Nest Tree\u201d \u00a0is the real issue: How can the mitigation compensate nature, including future eagles, \u00a0without us considering the loss of total natural habitat over a long period of time? The immediate loss of a nest tree is quite different and additional from the loss of habitat that would preclude eagles, and other nature, \u00a0from occupying that area for years into the future. The mitigation is not just the present loss of a nest tree but possibly the potential loss of nest trees for the next 50 or 500 years. This is the most valuable concern for mitigation \u00a0— preserving or recreating habitat for the future. This makes mitigation easier \u2013 or more imperative — when considering the destructive habitat loss from a commercial development or from government. The difficulty of assessment remains when a good nesting tree on private land is lost due to the aging quality of the tree. \u00a0\u00a0There may not be any suitable options for eagles. So this brings us to the other issue: part of mitigation requires a forward review of an entire area with the view of holding good effective habitat for the long-term. Even in areas where there are no eagle trees today perhaps we should be considering planting them as part of today\u2019s mitigation plans.<\/span><\/p>\n Conclusions:<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n David Hancock<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Myles Lamont<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Hancock Wildlife Foundation.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/a>In this proposal a <\/span>Bald Eagle Preserve<\/i><\/b> is the diverse ecological homeland supporting a bald eagle territory \u2013 and at its heart, in some cases even defining its roots, \u00a0is the Bald Eagle Nest. This proposal is planned to preserve or create suitable trees to sustain nesting bald eagles and consequently their <\/span>Bald Eagle Preserve<\/i><\/b> for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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