Page 1 - The Shores of Jupiter - January '20

Our Village Voice

VOL. 31 NO. 1 www.seabreezepublications.com JANUARY 2020

Northern Notes Bill’s Box

Bald Eagles their map since 2017 when
the eagles were no longer By Bill Thompson
By Katie Roundtree, listed as endangered, so Lost Photo
Finance Director, Northern there could be newer nests After the last tropical
Palm Beach County within our area that have blow, I checked The Little
Improvement District not yet been documented. Library in the Tot Lot. The
The bald eagle has been Bald eagles are found glass front was missing as
the national emblem of the in areas with large water were all the books. It wasn’t
United States since 1782 bodies due to their diet the storm because we had
and a spiritual symbol for of fish and their hunting no reports. Vandals? Who
native people for far longer techniques. According to Bald eagle nest in Abacoa would do that? I began to pursue repairs with my
than that. These regal birds the Cornell Lab, rather than preserve – 2011 woodworking friends on the HOA Board. Then, on a
aren’t really bald, but their do their own fishing, bald routine check, I found the glass replaced and books for
white-feathered heads gleam eagles often go after other creatures’ catches. A bald eagle will exchange. Take one leave one. I borrowed Microsoft’s
in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings. Look harass a hunting osprey until the smaller raptor drops its prey Office 2007 for Dummies. At home flipping pages I
for them soaring in solitude, chasing other birds for their in midair, where the eagle swoops it up. A bald eagle may even found a 6x4 color photo of three people snuggled up
food, or even nesting in our area. snatch a fish directly out of an osprey’s talons. Fishing mammals tight. Girl with yellow shirt. The guy in the middle
The bald eagle is a conservation success story. Today, (even people sometimes) can also lose prey to bald eagle piracy. and the other girl were wearing red shirts. If the photo
Florida has one of the densest concentrations of nesting bald Due to this nature, Benjamin Franklin was not in favor of the sounds familiar, give me a call: (561) 762-1832.
eagles in the lower 48 states. While no longer listed under the bald eagle as our national emblem. In 1784, Franklin disparaged Climate
U.S. Endangered Species Act or the Florida Endangered and the national bird’s thieving tendencies and its vulnerability to This does not relate to the validity that the climate
Threatened Species rules, bald eagles remain protected by both harassment by small birds. “For my own part,” he wrote, “I is changing year by year. That fact, IMO, is proven to
the state eagle rule and federal law. Once endangered by hunting wish the bald eagle had not been chosen the representative of all but a segment of doubters that would argue with a
and pesticides, bald eagles have flourished under protection. our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not mud fence. Even occasional fluctuations in the overall
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission get his living honestly … besides he is a rank coward: The warming trend result in comments such as, “See. I told
(FWC) documented four nests in northern Palm Beach County little king bird not bigger than a sparrow attacks him boldly you so.” These thoughts are prompted by drizzling rain
in 2017 and a little over 30 nests in all of Palm Beach County. and drives him out of the district.” If Franklin had his way, the this morning. December is usually dry and here it is
(Source: FWC Bald Eagle Nest Locator) One of the nests is wild turkey would have been our national emblem instead. wet. My observation will be criticized. Oh well.
located in a preserve area within Abacoa. It was documented He believed that the turkey was a true native bird with lots Christmas Lights
by our staff biologist and in use up until a few years ago. It of courage who would not hesitate to attack if provoked. He Again The Shores entrance was a town standout. I
is amazing to see one of these large nests up close. Nests can never publicly suggested the turkey as our national emblem, did not see or hear of statements to the contrary. We
range from about 4 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep to over but wrote about the choice of the bald eagle in a private letter. look upscale as often is said of our beautiful village.
9 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. Eagles have strong nest The story however, makes for a good conversation starter. The Shores is a go-to place to look for a home in a
site fidelity, meaning they return to the same nest and nesting NPDES tip: Planting a rain garden with native plants community where standards are upheld. Our HOA
territory each year. If they successfully produce young at a somewhere around your home helps lock rainwater in the Board credits member Steve Jackson for his annual
nest, they are likely to return to that nest year after year. A ground, reducing the flow of pollutants and poisons into the
pair might choose to build a new nest in a different area if drains. Using organic fertilizers and pesticides in your garden Bill’s Box on page 3
their previous nest was unproductive (failed to fledge eaglets) further protects and brings health to your yard and all the
or otherwise proved unsuitable. The FWC has not updated species living there.
Senior Softball Winter League

Opens Jan. 8 Featuring 12 Teams

The Jupiter Senior Games are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning
Softball Association at Jupiter Community Park. A total of 211 players, 55 years
launches its 2020 of age and over were registered for the slow-pitch softball
Winter League Jan. 8 program as of mid-December. “We are pleased that all those
featuring more than who have registered and want to play are on a team,” said
200 players competing Dave Summers, JSSA president and league commissioner.
on 12 teams in three The softball program is in its third decade and is
divisions. a cooperative effort by the Jupiter Senior Softball
The league runs Association (JSSA) and the Town of Jupiter. New players
through March and is a are always welcome. The partnership with the Town and
highlight of the season the support of 18 sponsoring businesses have been critical
that extends from April Senior player, Gary Davis, connects to the success of the league, Summers stated. “We couldn’t
Monday, January 20
1 through March 31. with a hit through the infield. do it without them.”
Senior Softball on page 3

Call Jupiter Police Department immediately
to report suspicious activity.

(561) 799-4445
The sooner called the sooner they can help. 911 is for emergencies only.
Keep cars and house locked.