American bald eagle breeding pair nesting in Shelby Township’s Holland Ponds Park
Local nature photographers recently spotted two American bald eagles nesting in Shelby Township’s Holland Ponds Park.
Based on the birds’ activities and behaviors, local officials believe the pair are nesting and readying to rear juvenile eagles.
 “Wildlife photographer and bald eagle observer Joan Bonin reported that the eagles have been seen sitting low in the nest, appearing to roll egg(s) and change guard, a sign they are incubating eggs,” said Elizabeth “Lizzy” Schultz, Naturalist / Nature Center Coordinator for Shelby Township Parks, Recreation and Maintenance.
“Typically, one to three eggs are laid as early as January, hatching in about five weeks. The chicks take flight at about 3 months old and look nothing like adults. Juveniles are solid brown with mottled white areas underneath their wings. They do not gain their iconic white head and tail until they are about 5 years old.”
If successful at rearing young, American bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, will remain monogamous to each other and come back to the same nest each year. The nest, or eyrie, starts at about 5 feet wide. However, as the pair adds to it each year, nests can reach 9 feet in width and weigh as much as a car.
 “It’s imperative that we all work together to protect our new eagles,” Schultz said. “This means following federal guidelines for viewing in a way that won’t disturb them. Visitors must stay more than 330 feet from the nest, and drones are prohibited within 1,000 feet of the nest.
“If the eagles feel too stressed, they may abandon their nest and young. Improper disposal of fishing lines and lead-based lures are also dangerous for wildlife, especially bald eagles who can get lead poisoning from the fish they eat or trapped in old fishing lines while hunting.”
To help residents and visitors safely view the eagles, Schultz and Bonin will lead a free guided hike 2-3 p.m., Saturday, April 8.
 “Lizzy Schultz is an excellent naturalist, and I can’t think of better ambassadors to welcome American eagles to our township than her and Parks and Rec Director Joe Youngblood,” Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis said. “As a patriotic American, it is exciting to know we have a pair of bald eagles nesting in one of our parks. First, however, I urge everyone to follow Ms. Schultz’s guidelines to ensure the eagles have every opportunity to thrive and raise a family in our beautiful community.”
To participate in the hike, meet at Holland Ponds at 50385 Ryan Road at 2 p.m. Be sure to dress for the weather with proper footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. Staff from the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center will provide a limited supply of binoculars to share. Holland Ponds Park is open from dawn to dusk or 8 p.m., whichever comes first.
 “This is truly a success story considering both the park location and the species involved,” Schultz said. “The area now known as Holland Ponds was deemed a superfund site by the EPA due to contamination by hazardous waste from the adjacent former G&H landfill company. Around this time, the bald eagle nearly went extinct because of human persecution and DDT poisoning. In 1961, Michigan had only 52 active bald eagle nests. All of that has changed thanks to federal, state, and local conservation and habitat restoration initiatives.
“Holland Ponds is now thriving with life, including beavers, great blue herons and bald eagles. There are also more than 900 active bald eagle nests across the state. This success shows that it’s never too late to make changes that will help preserve our natural spaces and wildlife.”
If you have questions regarding the eagles and how best to view them, contact the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center at 586-323-2478 during business hours or email naturecenter@shelbytwp.org. The Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center is located at 4101 River Bends Drive and is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.
|
