City provides guidance on active bald eagle nests
Bald eagle nesting season began on Oct. 1 and will last through May 15 in Florida.
The city of Sanibel’s Natural Resources Department reported that active eagle nests are protected locally, by the Sanibel Land Development Code, and federally, through the U.S. Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. City staff, therefore, use both measures to minimize unnecessary interference that development activities may have with nesting and breeding birds.
The National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines have three general recommendations to avoid disturbing nesting bald eagles: keeping a distance between the activity and the nest (distance buffers); maintaining preferably forested (or natural) areas between the activity and around nest trees (landscape buffers); and avoiding certain activities during the breeding season. It provides more specific recommendations for activities occurring within 660 feet of an active nest, and even more stringent recommendations for activities within 330 feet of an active nest.
As of April, there were revisions to the eagle regulations that include options for eligible applicants to obtain a general permit. General permits are designed for situations where the risk to eagles is pre-determined to be low and for which well-established avoidance, minimization and mitigation measures exist.
– For eligibility requirements, visit https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/eagle-incidental-and-nest-take-general-permit-standard-conditions.
– For Incidental Take permits, visit https://fwsepermits.servicenowservices.com/fws?id=fws_kb_view&sys_id=7d0269a51b9f10104fa520eae54bcbf2.
To ensure compliance with federal regulations, the city advises residents, businesses and contractors proposing to do exterior work within 660 feet of an active nest to first consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Applicants are also required to sign a “Bald Eagle Nesting Season” affidavit, which documents their awareness of the recommendation, and submit it along with all other relevant permit forms.
If you are unaware if your property is located within the 660-foot buffer, there is a GIS map of all bald eagle nests documented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Audubon EagleWatch Program. Visit https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9ade9794b8494d2b84c8dea339ea1428 and enter your address, then toggle the layer marked for the nesting buffers.
A violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act can result in a fine of $100,000 ($200,000 for organizations), imprisonment for one year or both for a first offense. Penalties increase substantially for additional offenses, and a second violation of the act is a felony.
For more information, contact the Natural Resource Department at sandnr@mysanibel.com or 239-472-3700.