Page 2 - PGA Community News - January '20

Page 2, PGA C.A.N.! January 2020 January 2020

Northern Notes

Bald Eagles Today, Florida has one of the fishing, bald eagles often go after
densest concentrations of nesting other creatures’ catches. A bald
By Katie Roundtree, bald eagles in the lower 48 states. eagle will harass a hunting osprey
Finance Director, While no longer listed under the until the smaller raptor drops its
Northern Palm Beach U.S. Endangered Species Act or the prey in midair, where the eagle
County Improvement Florida Endangered and Threatened swoops it up. A bald eagle may
District Species rules, bald eagles remain even snatch a fish directly out of an
The bald eagle has been protected by both the state eagle rule osprey’s talons. Fishing mammals
the national emblem of the and federal law. Once endangered by (even people sometimes) can also
United States since 1782 hunting and pesticides, bald eagles lose prey to bald eagle piracy. Due
and a spiritual symbol for have flourished under protection. to this nature, Benjamin Franklin
native people for far longer The Florida Fish and Wildlife was not in favor of the bald eagle
than that. These regal birds Conservation Commission (FWC) as our national emblem. In 1784,
aren’t really bald, but their documented four nests in northern Bald eagle nest in Abacoa preserve – 2011 Franklin disparaged the national
white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate- Palm Beach County in 2017 and a bird’s thieving tendencies and its
brown body and wings. Look for them soaring in solitude, little over 30 nests in all of Palm Beach County. (Source: vulnerability to harassment by small birds. “For my own
chasing other birds for their food, or even nesting in our FWC Bald Eagle Nest Locator) One of the nests is located part,” he wrote, “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen
area. in a preserve area within Abacoa. It was documented by the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral
The bald eagle is a conservation success story. our staff biologist and in use up until a few years ago. It is character. He does not get his living honestly … besides
amazing to see one of these large nests up close. Nests can he is a rank coward: The little king bird not bigger than
range from about 4 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep to over a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the
Editorial Board 9 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. Eagles have strong nest district.” If Franklin had his way, the wild turkey would
site fidelity, meaning they return to the same nest and nesting
have been our national emblem instead. He believed that
the turkey was a true native bird with lots of courage who
territory each year. If they successfully produce young at
a nest, they are likely to return to that nest year after year. would not hesitate to attack if provoked. He never publicly
Editor: James A. Cioffi A pair might choose to build a new nest in a different area suggested the turkey as our national emblem, but wrote
james@jcclaw.com if their previous nest was unproductive (failed to fledge about the choice of the bald eagle in a private letter. The
Feature Writers: Dawn Levinstein, POA eaglets) or otherwise proved unsuitable. The FWC has not story however, makes for a good conversation starter.
Commissioner Hal R. Valeche updated their map since 2017 when the eagles were no NPDES tip: Planting a rain garden with native plants
O’Neal Bardin Jr. longer listed as endangered, so there could be newer nests somewhere around your home helps lock rainwater in the

Contributing within our area that have not yet been documented. ground, reducing the flow of pollutants and poisons into
Reporter: Don Kiselewski Bald eagles are found in areas with large water bodies the drains. Using organic fertilizers and pesticides in your
due to their diet of fish and their hunting techniques. garden further protects and brings health to your yard and
Your editors strongly believe that the number According to the Cornell Lab, rather than do their own all the species living there.
of people who do become involved with any
news medium directly reflects on that medium’s
excellence, versatility and broad viewpoint.
Therefore, we invite PGA residents to contribute
articles or current, timely news items and/or Drainage Information From Northern
“Letters to the Editors.”
Articles/letters are subject to editing and editors’ Palm Beach County Improvement District
right to publish. Submission must include writer’s
name, address and telephone number. Unsigned articles Why do some yards flood after large quantities of rain? The simple answer is according
/letters will not be published. Opposing views to article to most approved drainage designs, some water is meant to be temporarily stored in
viewpoints contained in this paper are welcome.
Articles do not necessarily represent the viewpoint public recreational areas, yard swale and streets. The excess surface water slowly drains
of the C.A.N.! organization. Submissions should to community lakes or on-site ponds via street and yard drainage grates and/or via swales,
be mailed or delivered by the tenth of each month ditches and canals. The more complex answer is that each yard is different. Some yards
for the following month’s publication (example: by
January 10 for February publication) to: have drainage swale areas. These are areas that are sloped to catch water and filter out
C.A.N.! Editors pollutants as water is absorbed into the ground. Some yards direct water to the community
Post Office Box 33436 drainage system as run-off with very little water retained in the yard. Familiarize yourself
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420 or with how your yard was built to determine how water drains from your home.
Contact the publisher for additional information
regarding submissions, fax (561) 627-9088 or e-mail
canpga@yahoo.com.
Let’s hear from you.

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