Bald eagle soaring 'success,' but at what cost? (CNN)

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By Peggy Mihelich
CNN

(CNN) -- The bald eagle is officially about to become a "conservation success story" for the U.S. government, which has worked for more than three decades to help the national symbol recover from habitat destruction, illegal shooting and contamination of its food source.

By June 29, the government is expected to take bald eagles off the Endangered Species Act's "threatened" list. The birds then would be protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

But Kieran Suckling of the Center for Biological Diversity conservation group said this victory comes at a price -- loss of eagle habitat protection.

The bird's nesting grounds were protected as long as the bald eagle was considered a "threatened" species. But the less restrictive eagle protection act does not put eagle habitats off-limits.

Suckling said he worries that without habitat protection, developers will move into critical bald eagle areas, push the birds out and reduce their numbers.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/06/07/bald.eagle.delisting/index.html

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1. Indeed. Eagle attacks on local chickens cause alarm

Predatory eagles have been taking advantage of the all you can eat bouffet offered by small scale poultry operations. Many homeowners hereabouts keep a few chickens or ducks for eggs and meat. Some are allowed to range free. One poultry fancier has lost 9 chickens to the big birds, over 10% of his flock. Another woman heard a ruckus in the back yard and rushed out to find an eagle dragging a duck out of its pen. The eagle fled without its prize, but circled overhead for a long time afterwards, looking for another opportunity. Wildlife officials said there are about 50 nesting pairs on the island and they are feeding hatchlings now. Eagles are scavengers, mostly, but roaming chickens make easy pickings.