State Closes Trail To Protect Nesting Eagles

The state Department of Environmental Protection is closing down a hiking trail  for a few months in Windsor Locks to keep people away from a nesting pair of Bald eagles. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.

The Windsor Locks Canal Trail parallels the Connecticut River above the Enfield Rapids, a perfect place for eagles to forage for fish. Not too long ago there were no eagles in Connecticut. They were wiped out by the pesticide DDT. But since the federal government banned the pesticide in 1972 the eagle has slowly returned. Last year, 18 pairs of bald eagles made nests in Connecticut. Although only two thirds of them successfully fledged chicks. Rick Jacobson, the Director of the D.E.P.’s Wildlife Division, says the state is trying to encourage successful nesting of bald eagles.

“Although they are large in size and one might think that they’re not going to be easily disturbed, they, in fact, are easily disturbed by unpredictable human activities like walking, bike riding... More importantly: walking dogs, stopping underneath the nest and taking photographs. Those kinds of activities will cause eagles to abandon nests.”

The state will reopen the Windsor Lock Trail once the young eagles start flying or if the nest is abandoned.

For WNPR, I’m Nancy Cohen.