The impact of human-caused disturbance on the nesting success (productivity) of bald eagles in southeast alaska is discussed. The literature on disturbance of raptors generally and bald eagles specifically was reviewed. Raptor biology and behavior as they may be related to disturbance and habituation of eagles are discussed. Examples of nondisturbing highway consruction completed within the standard buffer zones and time frames to protect eagles as recommended by theunited states fish and wildlife service for southeast alaska are presented. Energy (time) budget research to determine levels of (and possibly define) disturbance of bald eagles is briefly explored. A case-by-case approach to prevent disturbance of nesting bald eagles during highway construction, as required under the federal bald eagle protection act, is proposed. The approach allows incorporation of realistic, enforceable stipulations in project environmental and construction bid documents to protect nesting bald eagles, yet maximizes the flexibility necessary to schedule highway projects to minimize design and construction costs. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1279, Hydrology and environmental design 1990.
Samenvatting