There ended up being not one but TWO photographers who went out to and beyond the island to try to get photos.  Both were identified and contacted/spoken to by MD Natural Resources Police.  The MD NRP have made it clear they will come out to act on any further violations.  In addition, the owners of the dam said they were going to re-post the "no trespassing" signs on the island.  So, it looks like the problem has been resolved, although, ironically, it was resolved just in time for the big rainfall last week that sent the river up so high they opened the flood gates on the dam so the eagles have gone elsewhere, at least until the river comes back down.  

 


 If you want more details you can navigate to this photography-related forum thread:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/958660/2

Sarah B. Anderson
Cabin John, MD

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Stock <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Conowingo eagle harassment: DNR response


Excerpts from The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act 
 
16 U.S.C. 668(a) - Prohibited acts: to "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or in any manner, any bald eagle commonly known as the American eagle, or any golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof of the foregoing eagles," or to violate "any permit or regulation issued pursuant to this subchapter." 
 
16 U.S.C. 668c. Definitions - "As used in this subchapter ... 'take' includes also pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb." 
 
16 U.S.C. 668b - Enforcement provisions: "The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with State fish and wildlife agencies or other appropriate State authorities to facilitate enforcement of this subchapter, and by said agreements to delegate such enforcement authority to State law enforcement personnel as he deems appropriate for effective enforcement of this subchapter." 
 
*** 
 
The man caught in the photographs was, in light of the "testimony" on this list, clearly violating the Act. Does Maryland have any cooperative agreement under the Act? If so, Therres' statement that the Bald Eagle "still receives special protection from the federal government under the ... Act" is not completely accurate - given the context of what happened, to me, it's an obfuscation. 
 
Tom Stock 
Silver Spring, Md. 
 
----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry Armistead" <> 
To: <> 
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 2:46 PM 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Conowingo eagle harassment: DNR response 
 
Diane asked us to post this reponse from Glenn Therres to her query about the intrusive photographer at Conowingo.- Harry Armistead. 
 
Les and Harry, 
 
I am not a registered user of MDOsprey.  Would you post the hilited portion of Glenn’s response for me, please?  Thanks! 
 
Diane Cole 
 
 
From: Therres, Glenn [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 2:14 PM 
To: Cole, Wanda D. - Easton, MD 
Subject: RE: Harassment of Wintering Bald Eagle Population on Island @ Conowingo Dam- Harford County 
 
It is my understanding that NRP did investigate the situation and may have issued some citations (for what I am not sure).  The bald eagle is no longer listed by the State as a threatened or endangered species.  It came off the State’s list on April 5, 2010.  It is now just another migratory bird.  It still receives special protection from the federal government under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. 
 
For clarification, the Important Bird Area program is through the National Audubon Society and carries no regulatory protections.      =