Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY
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A28    SCIENCE
                 Wednesday 28 June 2017


















              Fourth of July fireworks discouraged for sake of bald eagles





            By PAT EATON-ROBB
            Associated Press
            COLUMBIA,  Conn.  (AP)  —
            Independence  Day  tra-
            ditions  in  one  small  Con-
            necticut town are clashing
            with an effort to protect an
            iconic symbol of the United
            States.
            Authorities in Columbia are
            asking residents this year to
            forgo shooting off fireworks
            for the sake of a family of
            bald eagles.
            Last summer, a pair of ea-
            gles  became  the  first  to
            call  Columbia  Lake  home
            since the species returned
            to the state in 1992.
            This  spring,  an  eaglet  ap-
            peared in the nest, which is
            located about 100 feet (30
            meters) up in a tree.
            The  bird  is  not  yet  old
            enough  to  fly  and  Brian
            Hess,  a  wildlife  biologist
            with the state Department
            of Energy and Environmen-
            tal  Protection,  said  there
            is  a  real  concern  that  the
            noise of fireworks could be
            enough  to  scare  the  ea-
            glet out of the nest before
            it is ready.                 This 2017 photo provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shows a baby bald eagle in a
                                         nest in a tree in Columbia, Conn.
            “Eagles    and    fireworks                                                                                                     Associated Press
            are  both  sort  of  this  great
            American  tradition,”  he    the birds to leave the area  There  is  no  official  fire-  wealthy New Englanders.   state laws because of their
            said.  “But  I  can’t  think  of   for  good.  Eagles,  which  works  display  in  Columbia,  “It’s  similar  to  many  towns  unique  status  as  a  symbol
            a  more  perfectly  startling   mate  for  life,  normally  re-  but  Mark  Walter,  the  town  that have a lake,” he said.  of the nation, Hess said.
            thing than a firework.”      turn  to  the  same  nesting  administrator  says  illegal  “The Fourth of July is a holi-  Anyone  found  to  have
            The town has shared a let-   site for years.              displays  are  common,  es-  day that people celebrate  set off fireworks leading  to
            ter  from  Hess  urging  resi-  Hess said the eaglet should  pecially  at  the  282-acre  with fireworks.”          harm would be prosecuted
            dents to avoid shooting off   be ready to fly in a couple  (114-hectare) lake. It once  Bald  eagles,  though  no  and  could  face  fines  and
            fireworks during their Fourth   of weeks. He said it likely will  was a popular summer va-  longer  considered  an  en-  jail time.
            of July celebrations.        stay with its parents through  cation  destination,  but  is  dangered   species,   are  “The DEEP will be available
            Hess also is advising people   August before heading out  now  a  year-round  home  still  threatened  and  are  for  dispatch  if  needed,”
            not to visit the nest. Disturb-  on its own.              to  many  middle-class  and  protected  by  federal  and  Walter said.q
            ing  it,  he  said,  could  lead
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