Philadelphia moves to protect eagles

Some eagles — the sort that do not do their work at the sports complex — are getting some additional protection from Philadelphia City Council. A bald eagle’s nest near the prison complex in Northeast Philadelphia may prompt a law regulating who can move close to the winter home of several bald eagles.  Barry Bessler of the city Parks and Recreation Department, said the birds have been around during the winters for the past few years.”In 2008 it was discovered that there was a bald eagle nest in a large mature tree on the northeastern boundary of the Pennypack on the Delaware,” he said.Bessler said the bill gives the city the ability to close off the area around the nest to keep people from disturbing the birds.”They exist there throughout the winter months and lay their eggs and then they hatch in the spring,” he said. “The eagles themselves are not there in the warm-weather months, and then return.”The bill replaces an agreement worked out with the state game commission that expired in May to protect the eagles.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal