Centerport's Bald Eagle Advocates Want Town To 'Protect The Nest'

CENTERPORT, NY — Long Island wildlife advocates have been asking the Town of Huntington to "protect the nest" of bald eagles that have been nesting in Centerport since 2017. The town postponed a scheduled vote on a variance for a retaining wall close to the nest, pending an investigation by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [DEC], according to the public Facebook group "Bald Eagles of Centerport."

The Facebook group is made up of local residents and bald eagle fans who photograph and track the eagle pair, who they say successfully raised 10 eaglets. A group of the involved photographers created a calendar to raise funds for two nonprofits, one a non-profit Wildlife Rescue and Rehab group called WINORR.

The counsel for the Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals John Bennett told Newsday that the postponement was requested by the variance applicant, Rosewood Developers Inc. The housing developer wanted to consult the DEC at an earlier stage of the permit application process than is required by town law, Bennett said.

“Chairman [Gerard] Asher thought it would be more prudent to grant the adjournment, as the Town would welcome any comments or directives from DEC as a matter of procedure, since the nest is under their jurisdiction," he said.

At the March 24th zoning board of appeals meeting around 50 people attended what Rob Schwartz called "one last chance to show the board we do not want this area near the eagles' nest disturbed."

Schwartz is an administrator of the Facebook group who also started a petition that over 4,600 people signed as of Thursday.

"The [eagle] pair is presently incubating three more eggs, due to hatch at any moment," the petition reads.

"Currently, a construction proposal that threatens their territory is under review with the town zoning board. This project would be less than 600 feet from the nest. It would also be at eye level with their nest, obstructing their views. Deforestation in the area of the eagles' nest is also part of the construction plan. Eagles choose their nesting location very carefully. There must be adequate food sources and unobstructed views. If the habitat is disturbed, they will abandon the nest."

Bald eagles are no longer listed as a federal endangered species but "repeated disturbance by humans is unlawful under the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and under the Environmental Conservation Law of New York," according to the DEC.

Although the bald eagle made a dramatic comeback in upstate New York, on Long Island there are currently believed to be only around eight identified bald eagle nests. Before this recent reemergence of the iconic bird, the last known nesting site on Long Island was on Gardiners Island in 1932.

"This particular pair of bald eagles has provided so many local Long Islanders and people worldwide with education on the ecosystem and ornithology," Samantha Lynn wrote in the petition.

A YouTube channel broadcasts a live shot of the eagles' home.

The advocates hope this pioneering eagle pair's offspring will begin to repopulate Long Island.