June 21, 2018
Letters, North Dakota

Letter: Five eagles killed by wind farm could have produced 100-150 eaglets

By Rozanne Enerson Junker on Jun 20, 2018 | Jun 20, 2018 | www.inforum.com

In response to “How many bald eagle deaths from a ND wind farm can wildlife officials accept?” published June 18: Given the amount of wind in North Dakota, certainly the Courtenay Wind Farm could have been situated away from where bald eagles nest. The nests aren’t hard to find as bald eagles usually come back to the same nest every year. But as the farm is up and running it seems unlikely that it will be moved. As other wind farms apply for permits, I hope critical nesting spots for our national bird will be protected.

It is a mistake to think that killing five eagles is simply killing five eagles. We are allowing the killing, most likely, of a mated pair as they are territorial birds and the bird killed likely belongs to the nest in the vicinity. Eagles live in the wild for 20 – 30 years or longer, so the five eagles that have been killed by the wind farm over five years, could potentially have produced 100 – 150 eaglets over their lifetime as pairs raise one to three eaglets per season.

I have come across a dead bald eagle and it is heartbreaking to see this once magnificent bird, a lifeless, bloody mass of beak, feathers and talons.

It was 236 years ago, on June 20, 1782, that the bald eagle was named the national emblem of the United States. I wonder what our Founding Fathers would think, knowing we are now debating how many can be legally killed?

Enderson Junker is a native of Hamilton, N.D., currently living in Quebec.

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/06/21/letter-five-eagles-killed-by-wind-farm-could-have-produced-100-150-eaglets/