Bald Eagle nest reported in NW Miami SE of Miami Gardens Drive & I-75

[NewMexiKen]

I received a call from a resident who lives in Palm Springs North in NW Miami. She said she has often seen Bald Eagles in her neighborhood but wants to report an eagle nest in the tallest pine at the NW corner of NW 181 Street and NW 87 Avenue.

This is just off I-75-- take Miami Gardens Drive/860  east off I-75 and the the first right (south) onto NW 87 Avenue. It is in the undeveloped area along the right (west) side of the road. Turn Right (west) at NW 181 Street and it is visible to the north (right). there is road construction going on quite near the nest and there may be plans to develop this tract of land in the near future. The caller said she has seen the eagles flying to and from the nest, so it must be active.

She is concerned about protecting the nest and asked about whether there is any law to prevent development that would destroy or disturb the nest. I said that this is under the authority of Florida's regulations based upon federal laws that continue to protect nesting sites even since the Bald Eagle was de-listed.

I sent an e-mail to Matt Smith, Florida Audubon Eagle Watch Coordinator and to Michelle Vandeventer, who is the Florida FWC Eagle Plan Coorinator to see if either is aware of this nest and whether there are any permitted construction activities taking place close to it.
--

[Maria Rosa Drake]

This is interesting. Last week I drove home via the Turnpike (instead of US-27) and about half a mile south of the I-75 exit I thought I saw an adult eagle roosting on a tree on the East side of the Turnpike. This is very close to the area you described below. And it may just confirm what I thought I had seen.

[NewMexiKen]

On Tuesday, February 3, 2015 1:38 PM, "Vandeventer, Michelle" <[e-mail]> wrote:


Ken
 
Thank you for this information – FWC has received several reports regarding this nest (located in an Australian pine) which has been assigned a temp nest ID of DA941 until a permanent ID is assigned.   It is my understanding that agency staff have visited the site in response to inquiries, but I will follow up with the South Region office to understand outcome of those visits.
 
Best regards, Michelle
 
Michelle van Deventer
FFWCC, Bald Eagle Plan Coordinator

[Mike Fossler]

I am happy to report there is indeed an active nest at this location of Miami Gardens Drive and NW 87 Ave.!!!!

Several of the neighbors approached me while I took some photos and told me they had reported the nest to the FWC. They regularly see the eagles returning to the nest with prey. Two different people said they saw an eagle bringing a snake back to the nest. They also believe they hear chirping from the nest which subsides when an adult brings food.

When I arrived there were two eagles on the nest. I could not see any eaglets. The nest is quite large and is substantially higher in the air than the Pembroke nest (probably 15-20 feet higher.) The tree is in a cow pasture and is close to the edge of the property on both the south edge and especially the east edge. Along the east, NW 87 Ave. is in the process of being widened. The nest tree is only 15-20 feet away from the edge of the new sidewalk, but is in a fenced area.

At least one of the eagles is young - not unlike "Newfie". The brown markings are clear in the photos on the head and tail. The flying eagle is also the eagle which is closest in the nest photos. Never got a good look at the second eagle towards the back of the nest. The nest seems deep.

[NewMexiKen]

Excellent report and photos, Mike!

Yes, "Newfie" seems at about the same early 5th year plumage stage-- just turned 4 years old.

How interesting! Could she be one of the two eaglets hatched out of the PP nest in January 2011?

This is encouraging as maybe Newfee will still be able to breed-- I am worried it is too late though.

If there are more reports on this nest I will set up a new sub-forum just for these observations. this will keep the posts coherent. I don't think there is a Miami-Dade eagle forum that should have first choice. If so, anyone reading this should let me know so we don't "step on any toes."

[Mike Fossler]

I will try to go by again one morning as there is a good vantage from the east and the light should be great in the early morning. Some of the construction workers doing the roadwork have also seen the eagles - one of the workers showed me a photo he took with his phone of one of the eagles on a melaleuca snag down the street.

The neighborhood along the south has only been there a couple of years and from the descriptions people were giving me, this could be the first year for it. They all seem to think they saw the eagles building the nest but it could have been simple reinforcement?

[Lisa G]

We have so many Eagles nest in the State of Florida these Eagles could have come from anywhere . Palm Beach county have hundreds of nest and the Eagles could have come from Palm Beach County also . With out tagging there is no of knowing where the Eagles came from . Nice to see they are Healthy in the State of Florida :)