A new trail plan around Onondaga Lake has some people worried about the well-being of bald eagles that reside in the area. And, 30 years ago with a polluted lake, and nationally low eagle populations, even having eagles to protect was a fantasy.

Bald eagles have been important to the United States since 1782 when they were declared the national symbol. But by 1963 there was only one pair of nesting eagles left in the entire state of New York.

The tangible impact of environmental consciousness rescued eagles from extinction. By 2014, the number of nesting pairs of bald eagles in America was 5,000, and that number is on an upward trend.

The success of the lake cleanup is not unrelated to the growth of the eagle population. In fact, in the Great Lakes bald eagles have historically been used as a bio-indicator of water quality.

The local concern for nature, and the growth of the Syracuse eagle population, is a sign of overall interest in the environment health of central New York.

It’s understandable that there’s worries about the success of local eagles, but the trail plan won’t pose a threat to them.

SUNY-ESF Professor Shannon Farrell, who has spent time studying the birds with her students, said the area near the trail is already highly developed. Eagles are hunting and foraging near roads with cars on them, so the impact of human foot traffic on a lake trail is unlikely to drastically affect the birds. Her view is shared by eagle expert Tom Wittig.

Like it or not, the trail is expected to be built. While it’s possible the eagles will be negatively impacted, that seems unrealistic.

Peter Morrissey is a entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and information management and technology dual major. His column appears bi-weekly. He can be reached at pmorriss@syr.edu

Published on November 25, 2018 at 9:32 pm