Eagle ruling ruffles feathers
I got this new from tribune.com
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By Shanna Hogan, Tribune
September 1, 2006
Despite efforts by local environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided Wednesday not to reclassify the Arizona’s desert bald eagles as a distinct population set.
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Environmental groups who petitioned to have the eagles reclassified said the decision condemns eagles in the state to extinction.
According to the decision, eagles in Arizona have adapted to the hot weather and evolved into nonmigrating residents of the Southwest, but their differences are not significant enough to warrant reclassification.
“It is different from bald eagles elsewhere,†said Jeff Humphrey of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “But is the population significant to bald eagles as a whole? This population here is not.â€
In addition, with the eagles’ Arizona population at its highest ever, it is not at risk of extinction, Humphrey said.
There are presently 166 bald eagles and 50 breeding areas in Arizona.
In the lower 48 states, there are about 7,066 breeding pairs of bald eagles, up from an estimated 417 in 1963.
Wednesday’s decision means eagles in Arizona and across the nation will be removed from the list of threatened and endangered species in February, when the bald eagles are scheduled to be delisted.
They will continue to receive protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s decision was made in response to a petition submitted in October 2004 by the Center for Biological Diversity, Maricopa Audubon Society and Arizona Audubon Council.
The petition outlined why the desert nesting bald eagle was unique and warranted separate classification.
“By saying that the loss of the desert bald eagle is of no consequence to the eagles of a whole, they are setting themselves up to remove all protection and once that’s done, there’s not really any protection left,†said Robin Silver, board chairman for the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s just devastating.â€
Petitioners say they will continue to do whatever they can for the bald eagle population.
“It wasn’t unexpected,†Bob Witzeman of the Maricopa Audubon Society said. “But it sure is a shame.â€
Contact Shanna Hogan by telephone at (480) 970-2339.