The Effects of Human Activities and Development on Bald Eagles

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Liberty University | The Effects of Human Activities and Development on Bald Eagles | | | Joshua Hartman | Biology 408: Animal Behavior | | Joshua Hartman BIOL 408 Dr. Sattler 25 March 2012 The Effects of Human Activities and Development on Bald Eagles The bald eagle is our nation’s bird and symbol. It is on currency, monuments and seals. This particular animal has been receiving above average conservation efforts since it became our symbol. Once endangered, this animal now is flourishing, taken off the endangered list in 2007 and put as “least concern.” Today there are near 10,000 nesting pairs. The decline of the populations of Bald Eagles was because of the destruction of habitats, shooting and DDT and other contaminants. As late back as the 1960’s, human disturbance was also proposed as a cause of the decline. Today, human activity still disturbs the activity of the bald eagle. Eagles are very sensitive to humans and their activities, and they are known to usually be found in places far from human disturbance. There are many observations and research recorded that documents the many activities of humans that are a disruption to the activity of the bald eagle. A few studies have been done that record the effects of multiple human disturbances, such as boats, aircraft and automobiles, and compare and contrast the results. A study of the human disturbance of eagles by multiple sources was done in North-central Michigan in 1990. The team observed from 2000 meters four eagles’ nests for four months(Grubb et al. 1992). They created five different groups of disruptive sources: vehicle, pedestrian, aquatic, noise and aircraft. Aquatic was designated as any human water recreation activity, including boats and canoes. Noise was used for gunshots and other very abrupt loud sounds. 714 human disruptions were seen or heard by the team.

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