The Big Pine Nest bald eagle nest was established during the pandemic winter of 2020 and so there were NO visitors allowed at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Apex, NC. The bald eagle parents unwittingly placed their nest too close to a picnic shelter that was closed and free of visitors when they chose their nest tree. The gate that protects the picnic shelter has now been opened to all visitors. Loblolly and Pitch are being harassed on a daily basis by visitors who are not being properly kept away from their nest.
If we can better protect the nest, the State Park has the very real possibility of making this nest into a Bald Eagle Web Cam … but the parent bald eagles need the protection that would be provided by the following:
1) People must stay 660 feet from an active bald eagle nest, according to Federal law; the State Park has set up an inadequate “barrier” of a saw horse and some rope, at a distance of 150 feet from the nest. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says this arrangement is okay - however it is most definitely not within the law’s distancing of 660ft. Nor is this “barrier” stopping people from approaching the nest and even allowing their dogs to run underneath the nest tree
2) Insure proper distancing between visitors and the bald eagles by shutting the gate to Shelter 8 at the main road; this keeps cars at a distance of 1000ft from the nest; this closes the parking loop that contains the nest
3) Open the gate to shelter 2, which is the sister to shelter 8, so that people still have access to that part of the Ebenezer Day-Use Area
4) The US Fish and Wildlife Service says that by shutting the gate to shelter 8 you close the majority of the Ebenezer Day-Use area to use by visitors; this is not true as Shelter 2 covers more area and the hiking trails in the area are accessible via both Shelter 2 and the main recreation area
5) Put signage at the gate to shelter 8 stating: Bald Eagle Breeding Area; please respect the bald eagles and do NOT enter
6) Put signage on the trail that skirts the southern end of shelter 8 parking lot: “Please quietly cross the pavement so you don’t disturb the bald eagle nest”
7) Put signage on the shoreline prohibiting boats, kayaks, etc from getting within 660 ft of nest
8) Explain on the Jordan Lake Recreation Area web page, why shelter 8 is closed. Post a set of Bald Eagle Etiquette Rules and a thank you to visitors for helping protect the Big Pine Nest
9) Give bald eagle lectures at the Exhibit Hall at the Visitor Center for the Jordan Lake Recreation Area
10) By doing these steps the NC State Park Division has the best chance in 7 years to establish the only BALD EAGLE WEB CAM in NC. Just think of being able to watch, in real time, our very own bald eagles raise a family and without any interference from people inadvertently, or hopefully not purposefully, intruding on the nest
In protecting Big Pine Nest by following these steps the NC State Park Division will be fully protecting the bald eagles and teaching the NC Citizens how to help in that protection. No humans will be harmed and neither will any bald eagles. If the nest is not fully protected as outlined above, the bald eagles could abandon the eggs or the chicks or the chicks could fail to fledge and that, regretfully, will not only damage this bald eagle family but will most definitely negate the possibility of a Bald Eagle Web Cam.
Updates
March 2, 2022
Seeing this grow so quickly has left me completely stunned because I honestly thought I was just doing this on my own. This momentum belongs entirely to the people who care about Loblolly and Pitch as much as I do. I am deeply thankful that so many of you want to keep this family safe.
Reached 100 supporters
March 2, 2022
34 Comments
dogs being allowed to run free will be the biggest stressor event. Your doing great work for our Baldie friends!
Please close the picnic area at Jordan lake to protect these bald eagles trying to mate.
What a special and unique delight to have a pair of nesting bald eagles at our very own Jordan Lake! Let's protect these beautiful birds and create a safe environment for them to successfully raise their babies!
These majestic birds were almost wiped out when I was growing up, and they are finally repopulating. They need to be protected.
The beautiful creatures, like so many others, are losing habitat left and right, and now this? Look at it this way, if an animal feels their offspring are in danger, that animal will attack. If you don’t protect them, and they defend themselves, people will get hurt and that will be on Jordan Lake. Keep that in mind.
Humans belong to the earth, they do not own it.
Please give this your utmost consideration.
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The Big Pine Nest bald eagle nest was established during the pandemic winter of 2020 and so there were NO visitors allowed at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Apex, NC. The bald eagle parents unwittingly placed their nest too close to a picnic shelter that was closed and free of visitors when they chose their nest tree. The gate that protects the picnic shelter has now been opened to all visitors. Loblolly and Pitch are being harassed on a daily basis by visitors who are not being properly kept away from their nest.
If we can better protect the nest, the State Park has the very real possibility of making this nest into a Bald Eagle Web Cam … but the parent bald eagles need the protection that would be provided by the following:
1) People must stay 660 feet from an active bald eagle nest, according to Federal law; the State Park has set up an inadequate “barrier” of a saw horse and some rope, at a distance of 150 feet from the nest. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says this arrangement is okay - however it is most definitely not within the law’s distancing of 660ft. Nor is this “barrier” stopping people from approaching the nest and even allowing their dogs to run underneath the nest tree
2) Insure proper distancing between visitors and the bald eagles by shutting the gate to Shelter 8 at the main road; this keeps cars at a distance of 1000ft from the nest; this closes the parking loop that contains the nest
3) Open the gate to shelter 2, which is the sister to shelter 8, so that people still have access to that part of the Ebenezer Day-Use Area
4) The US Fish and Wildlife Service says that by shutting the gate to shelter 8 you close the majority of the Ebenezer Day-Use area to use by visitors; this is not true as Shelter 2 covers more area and the hiking trails in the area are accessible via both Shelter 2 and the main recreation area
5) Put signage at the gate to shelter 8 stating: Bald Eagle Breeding Area; please respect the bald eagles and do NOT enter
6) Put signage on the trail that skirts the southern end of shelter 8 parking lot: “Please quietly cross the pavement so you don’t disturb the bald eagle nest”
7) Put signage on the shoreline prohibiting boats, kayaks, etc from getting within 660 ft of nest
8) Explain on the Jordan Lake Recreation Area web page, why shelter 8 is closed. Post a set of Bald Eagle Etiquette Rules and a thank you to visitors for helping protect the Big Pine Nest
9) Give bald eagle lectures at the Exhibit Hall at the Visitor Center for the Jordan Lake Recreation Area
10) By doing these steps the NC State Park Division has the best chance in 7 years to establish the only BALD EAGLE WEB CAM in NC. Just think of being able to watch, in real time, our very own bald eagles raise a family and without any interference from people inadvertently, or hopefully not purposefully, intruding on the nest
In protecting Big Pine Nest by following these steps the NC State Park Division will be fully protecting the bald eagles and teaching the NC Citizens how to help in that protection. No humans will be harmed and neither will any bald eagles. If the nest is not fully protected as outlined above, the bald eagles could abandon the eggs or the chicks or the chicks could fail to fledge and that, regretfully, will not only damage this bald eagle family but will most definitely negate the possibility of a Bald Eagle Web Cam.
Updates
March 2, 2022
Seeing this grow so quickly has left me completely stunned because I honestly thought I was just doing this on my own. This momentum belongs entirely to the people who care about Loblolly and Pitch as much as I do. I am deeply thankful that so many of you want to keep this family safe.
Reached 100 supporters
March 2, 2022
34 Comments
These steps are simple, common sense measures, following established guidelines, to protect this eagle nest and future offspring. Adding educational signage, programs and hopefully a live eagle camera, will help NC residents to better understand and protect eagles going forward. Eagle cams are huge draws, reaching people around the state, country and world. Local teachers often incorporate eagle facts and camera watches into their lesson plans. Local news will highlight their progress, helping to further resident respect and engagement with eagles. What a wonderful way to help educate our citizenry about eagles, local wildlife and the environment. Please, take these no-nonsense steps to protect this eagle nest without delay!
dogs being allowed to run free will be the biggest stressor event. Your doing great work for our Baldie friends!
Please close the picnic area at Jordan lake to protect these bald eagles trying to mate.
What a special and unique delight to have a pair of nesting bald eagles at our very own Jordan Lake! Let's protect these beautiful birds and create a safe environment for them to successfully raise their babies!
These majestic birds were almost wiped out when I was growing up, and they are finally repopulating. They need to be protected.
The beautiful creatures, like so many others, are losing habitat left and right, and now this? Look at it this way, if an animal feels their offspring are in danger, that animal will attack. If you don’t protect them, and they defend themselves, people will get hurt and that will be on Jordan Lake. Keep that in mind.
Humans belong to the earth, they do not own it.
Please give this your utmost consideration.
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These steps are simple, common sense measures, following established guidelines, to protect this eagle nest and future offspring. Adding educational signage, programs and hopefully a live eagle camera, will help NC residents to better understand and protect eagles going forward. Eagle cams are huge draws, reaching people around the state, country and world. Local teachers often incorporate eagle facts and camera watches into their lesson plans. Local news will highlight their progress, helping to further resident respect and engagement with eagles. What a wonderful way to help educate our citizenry about eagles, local wildlife and the environment. Please, take these no-nonsense steps to protect this eagle nest without delay!