Bald Eagles are nesting on all three of Pittsburgh's major rivers!

Audubon Society of W.PA ^ | March 2014 | Unknown

[galtman]

Pittsburghers Rooting for the Eagles?

Many people probably thought the day would never come when Pittsburghers would be cheering for the Eagles…Bald Eagles, that is!

It has probably been more than 250 years since Bald Eagles last nested along Pittsburgh’s three rivers. In the 18th century, suitable nesting habitat in the form of mature tall trees was stripped from the hillsides flanking the rivers to meet the lumber and fuel demands of a rapidly growing human population in the area; second, industrialization beginning in the 19th century led to extensive unregulated pollution of the rivers, which decimated fish populations that eagles feed on; third, beginning in the mid-20th century eagles (and many other birds) showed signs of succumbing to the unintended side effects of widespread use of the pesticide DDT (developed for use in World War II) which eventually caused chronic nesting failure for the species. As recently as the mid-1980s, there were just a few remaining nesting Bald Eagles pairs anywhere in Pennsylvania, all of these in the northwest corner of the state. Even more recently, during the Second Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas project conducted statewide from 2004-2010, no Bald Eagles were observed nesting in (or even very close to) Allegheny County.

This history makes it all the more amazing that today there is a pair nesting on each of our three rivers, and one, located on the Monongahela River in the community of Hays, is within just five miles of the miles of the Point! A second nest is within view of the Allegheny River near Harmarville, and a third nest is in an undisclosed location in Allegheny County along the Ohio River. Importantly, Pittsburgh (Allegheny County) is now tied with Philadlephia County: three Bald Eagle nests to three!

[galtman]

You seem to be the only adult posting a response to this story ... feel like I’m on Yahooooo!

[galtman]

I live in that hideous town ... I know the history!

[fatnotlazy]

It's Pittsburgh and now the “thriving business” is health care.

Of course, now that Obamacare is here, expect health care to turn to dust.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Jynt Iggle IS the “BigBird.”

N’@!

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Well the Steel Industry has been gone pretty much from the late 70s thanks to the troika of Big Labor (the USW) Big Dem policy making (Pittsburgh is STILL blue) and enviro wackoism.

The eagles are nested in TREES which are “volunteeer” growth along the hillsides along the rivers. I too have been watching the one in Hays. Fascinating to watch. Several years back we had (and probably still do) have Peregrine Falcon nests. One on a window ledge of a skyscraper Dahntahn and the other on a ledge of the Cathedral of Learning out in Oaklin.

[lurk]

Yeah, they’re cute. But eagles gotta eat, which means the ducks on your pond, the fish in your pond, the chickens in your yard, your cat, your little dog are all on the menu.

Bald eagles are killer on the grab n go animal population.

[Liberty Valance]

It's great to see Bald Eagles.

Making a big comeback in Texas as well.

[JoeProBono]

1 of 3 eggs hatches in Pittsburgh bald eagle nest

http://news.yahoo.com/1-3-eggs-hatches-pittsburgh-bald-eagle-nest-012756597.html

[bravo whiskey]

good keeps them away from the “ENVIRONMENTALLY” friendly bird and bat killing wind farms.

[Sherman Logan]

Not a fan of the DDT ban, or the flimsy reasons behind it.

However, to be fair, if DDT had continued being used at the massive rate it was before Carson came along, it is likely considerable resistance would have evolved by now.

Pesticides, biocides and antibiotics are just not very long term solutions to pest or germ problems. The more massive the use, the more quickly resistance evolves.

[Vinnie]

In case you want to see something a little smaller..

Here’s another nest I’m watching. A Channel Island Allen Hummingbird.
A couple chicks just hatched 2 days ago.
http://www.ustream.tv/hummingbirdnestcam

[wita]

Unfortunately we won’t know really because of Rachel, if DDT was truly the wonder drug or if resistance would have occurred as you suggest. We really were that close to eradication of Malaria.

[Hugin]

Huh ... I thought I was posting to Free Republic ... a site that caters to adults ... I must have posted to Yahoooooo by accident ... because many responses here seem to be coming from liberal children !!!

No, just literate people who know a poorly written headline when we see it, and have a sense of humor. Something you could use.

[galtman]

I have a sense of humor ... and if you had read the entire article you would have KNOWN that I did not write the header ... I also have a nose for rudeness and arrogance ... are you sure you aren’t a Yahooooer who wandered here by accident?!!!

[PA Engineer]

And the lives lost to malaria, thanks to Rachel Carson, number in the millions. Yet another pernicious liberal, up to her dithering armpits in human death and destruction.

The worst part of it is DDT had nothing to do with the Eagle nesting problems. Just more Junk Science.

It was what propelled the EPA forward to leftist power.

The Hearing That Wasn’t Heard

Spurred by complaints based on Carson’s screed and resulting anti-DDT propaganda from the ultra-left Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and its allies, the EPA called a hearing on DDT. After considering testimony of 125 witnesses, EPA judge Edmund Sweeney issued his verdict in April, 1972. He supported DDT unequivocally, stating it is not carcinogenic and that its benefits far outweigh any risks. Sweeney noted the “present need for continued use” of the excellent powder and remarked that evidence showed potential replacement pesticides would “in many cases have more deleterious effects than the harm allegedly caused by DDT.”

However, two months later, ignoring his own agency’s ruling and advice, EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus single-handedly outlawed almost all use of DDT. He made the unscientific assertion that it poses “unacceptable risk to the environment and potential harm to human health.” He had not bothered to attend a single day of the seven-month hearing and, according to aides, had not read any transcripts. Critics quip that his decision shot him to the top of an infamous list: Hitler, 20.9 million deaths; Stalin, 61.9 million deaths; Mao Tse-Tung, 77 million deaths; Ruckelshaus, estimates range from 100 million to more than the competition combined.

It was a great victory for environmentalists. Prior to the hearing, senior EDF scientist Charles Wurster told the Seattle Times, “If the environmentalists win on DDT, they will achieve a level of authority they have never had before. In a sense, much more is at stake than DDT.” He was right. Today, the EPA’s website flippantly states of Ruckelshaus, “Though unpopular among certain segments of EPA’s constituency, his decision did serve to enhance the activist image he sought to create for the agency, and without prohibitive political cost.”

I am pleased eagles have returned to Pittsburgh, however I am horrified the idiots named a bridge after Carson and continue the DDT lies. We have had eagles for years east of Pittsburgh. They have been nesting by Beaver Run Reservoir a couple of miles from my home.

[galtman]

Eagles also eat lots of carrion ... which is why Ben Franklin did not favor them as a national symbol!!!

[jjotto]

Yep, eagles are close to becoming a nuisance. In farm country, they feast on dead livestock and roadkill.