Defense Department Helps Eagle Soar Off Endangered List

American Forces Press Service ^ | Meghan Vittrup

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2007 – After almost disappearing from the American scene, the bald eagle’s comeback is complete, thanks in part to the Defense Department.

Challenger, a bald eagle, takes flight during the Bald Eagle Recovery and Final Delisting ceremony held at the Jefferson Memorial, June 28, 2007, as Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne (right) stands with his hand over his heart. Defene Dept. photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, USN  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and other officials made the announcement today at a ceremonial event held at the Jefferson Memorial here.

“Today, I am proud to announce the eagle has returned,” Kempthorne said. “Based on its dramatic recovery, it is my honor to announce the Department of the Interior’s decision to remove the American bald eagle from the endangered species list.”

“The Department of Defense spends about half a billion dollars on endangered species,” said Alex Beehler, deputy undersecretary of Defense for environment, safety, and occupational health.

The Defense Department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collectively manage lands that host more than 440 bald eagle nests, and military installations have continued to work to help preserve the habitats of endangered species. Extensive monitoring programs are in place for threatened and endangered birds at military installations including Fort Riley, Kansas, Marine Corp Base Hawaii, and bases in San Diego.

The Legacy Resource Management Program protects the land, air and water belonging to the Defense Department. Officials also work to ensure the safety and health of humans and the aesthetic needs of the environment to preserve the riches of the land for generations to come.

The Bald Eagle has been the American symbol since 1782, when Thomas Jefferson and a committee of founding fathers decided to create a national seal. With its strength, grace, majesty, and uniqueness to America, the bald eagle was chosen.
The symbol can still be seen throughout the United States today.

It graces various official seals, including those of the United States and the president, and various other seals. It also serves as the mascot for a countless number of schools and colleges across the United States, and it continually serves as an icon and symbol to servicemembers. One well-known example is the Screaming Eagles of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

A few decades ago, the America symbol was at risk of disappearing from American skies, and it was first protected under the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940. It was later placed on the list of threatened and endangered species. Part of the blame was placed upon the pesticide DDT. DDT was known to create thin-shelled eggs that resulted in eggs that cracked before they were ready to hatch.

Today’s event began with an Indian blessing performed by Scott Aiken from the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs. Kempthorne thanked the audience members for their efforts that led to removing the American bald eagle from the threatened and endangered species list, and -- surrounded by local boy and girl scouts -- he signed the document that made the delisting official.

“Recovery is a triumph,” Kempthorne said. “From this point forward, we will work to ensure that the eagle never again needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act.”

Biographies:
Dirk Kempthorne

Related Sites:
Department of the Interior

Related Articles:
Defense Department Promotes ‘Buzz’ on Bases

	Scott Aiken of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs performs a Native American blessing during the Bald Eagle Recovery and Final Delisting ceremony held June 28, 2007, at the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C. Defense Dept. photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, USN   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	A Defense Department’s Legacy Resource Management Program display shows a table of information during the Bald Eagle Recovery and Final Delisting ceremony held at the Jefferson Memorial, June 28, 2007. The display was one of many in which provided natural and cultural resource information. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, USN   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne (right) stands next to Challenger, a bald eagle, after signing the final rule to delist the bald eagle during the Bald Eagle Recovery and Final Delisting ceremony, June 28, 2007, at the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C. Defense Dept. photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, USN   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne (center) stands with his hand over his heart while former New York City police officer Daniel Rodriguez (far right) sings the national anthem during the Bald Eagle Recovery and Final Delisting ceremony held at the Jefferson Memorial, June 28, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, USN   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

Check the photos closely and you'll see Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts -- but no tree huggers. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, wonde why?

[chessplayer]

“The majestic raptor had declined from half a million nesting pairs at the time of European settlement to 417 in 1963. By last year, it had rebounded to 9,789 pairs, and an estimated 11,040 today.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-eagles28jun28,0,48082.story?coll=la-tot-topstories&track=ntothtml

Not completely back, but it`s still good news.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Cool, anyone have a good recipe for eagle?

[SandRat]

NOW CUT THAT OUT!!!! LOL!!!!

Still is a fed crime to kill a Bald Eagle though; just no longer on the ESA list for the enviroNUTJOBS towhine about.

[54skylark]

Does it taste like chicken?

[sergeantdave]

And now for the rest of the story on why the eagle was taken off the list and who deserves credit for it -

A federal judge has ordered the US Interior Department to remove the bald eagle from the endangered species list on Feb. 16, 2007.

Conservationists estimate that 8,200 pairs of bald eagles nest in the lower 48 states.

“All the science shows that the bald eagle is fully recovered and not threatened or endangered,” said Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Damien Schiff who filed the lawsuit against the Interior Department.

The Interior Dept. bureaucrats were ordered to remove the eagle back in 1999 but broke the law.

The arrogant eco-fascists in interior continued to thumb their Marxist noses at congress for seven more years before PLF forced their hand in a federal court.

“Because defendants (federal officials) have failed to comply with the mandatory deadline set forth in the Endangered Species Act, the Court must compel defendants to act,” wrote Judge John R. Tunheim in his ruling.

The eagle is still protected by two federal laws prohibiting the taking, the harming or killing the bird.