Promoting better bald eagle etiquette

MILFORD — The estimated 150 migrating bald eagles that chose to winter along the upper Delaware River are leaving or have already left for their breeding grounds in Canada. The area is lucky enough to still have these magnificent birds in its midst and this time of year our resident couples turn their attention to nesting duties. Some build anew, while others will repair and renovate existing nests in preparation for another brood of eaglets. The Delaware Valley Raptor Center has identified four nesting couples just in the Milford area. In fact, it is not uncommon to see an eagle flying over downtown Milford in the spring. If you’ve had that opportunity, then you know what Lori McKean knows, “…when people go out there and see a bald eagle for the first time or for the tenth time it doesn’t really matter…It’s always a thrill.” McKean, Executive Director of The Eagle Institute, a non-profit organization serving the tri-state area, is focused on educating the public about sharing the eagle habitat. Her organization promotes a stewardship ethic, depending on the public to protect the eagle and its territory. It is a doctrine of “eagle etiquette” that in part means, “Do not disturb”. Although McKean first worked for the Audubon Society, her interest was not rooted in birding. “I grew up in Brooklyn n I never really thought about a bald eagle until I actually saw one in Sullivan county,” she recalls. At the Audubon Society, she identified a need for a bald eagle program. When the Society’s field office closed, she continued the program from her kitchen table. Eventually, she founded The Eagle Institute and runs it to this day, more than a decade later, “for the success of the programs offered, their educational value, and for the interaction with the public.” It is a labor of love, because McKean, who works for Grey Towers, admits that during the winter months, the Institute is more than another full-time job. It is time well rewarded, she says, especially when the public impact is a positive one: “I call it the ‘ah-ha’ moment. It is a moment of clarity for a lot of people when they make that connection with nature and they realize that they are a part of it.” McKean adds, “We have this divide between what people do and the rest of the natural world. It doesn’t have to be that way; the eagle is a wonderful way to connect people to nature.” What is the right way to watch eagles? McKean says first remember that you are viewing them out in the wild, not in a zoo. The viewing areas are usually remote and for the most part, you will be viewing them in winter, so safety is important. She advises to plan ahead, view eagles in the least intrusive way, quietly and from a distance. She adds, “It is important to do it right because these eagles need to be healthy enough to fly back to their nesting grounds.” Human disturbance during the breeding season can have an adverse effect on the success of the breeding couple and on their young. Stephanie Streeter, who runs the non-profit Delaware Valley Raptor Center (a licensed raptor rehabilitation and education center in Milford), puts it succinctly: “Please, please, please stay away from the nest,” explaining that it could make the difference between success and failure. She recalled the time someone alerted a TV station about a local pair, making their first nesting attempt. “The cameras were brought in, which spooked the eagles, and they flew away”, Streeter said. She, like McKean, advises anyone watching eagles at a nest to stay inside your car and keep quiet: “You just don’t know which eagles will get spooked, and making them fly (unnecessarily) requires them to waste needed energy,” Streeter explains. While the eagle has made a remarkable recovery from the point of near extinction, human interference, a loss of habitat and sadly, shootings, are still threats today. Increased public awareness and the dedication of individuals and groups like The Eagle Institute and the Delaware Valley Raptor Center are as important as ever. For more about eagles In our area, the following organizations that help protect the eagle and its habitat rely on donations and/or volunteers. The Eagle Institute P.O. Box 182 Barryville, NY 12719 Ph: 845-557-6161 570-685-5960 E-mail: eagleinstitute@yahoo.com www.eagleinstitute.org Delaware Valley Raptor Center 416 Cummins Hill Road Milford, PA 18337 E-mail: dvraptors@yahoo.com Phone: If you find an injured, sick or orphaned bird of prey 570- 296-6025. www.dvrconline.org/ The Delaware Valley Eagle Alliance Delaware Valley Eagle Alliance PO Box 498 Narrowsburg, NY 12764 E-Mail: JYD630@aol.com Phone: 845-252-6509 www.dveaglealliance.org/ National Park Service, Upper Delaware Phone: 570-72-8251 www.nps.gov/upde