My letter to Charlotte Wildlife Stewards and Donna's response follows:
Good Morning,
I (we) need a little advice and a lot of help.
There are about 800 homeowners in Piper Glen and at least equal that number in surrounding communities that for years have quietly enjoyed our local wildlife including a pair of nesting Bald Eagles named "Piper" and "Glen" without any real concerns. Now the 53 acre site next to the golf course is in danger of being rezoned into a sprawling apartment complex.
Because the property in question has remained unchanged for the last 30 years, and because of the design of Piper Glen which took into account the wetlands and floodplains within the community, this last remaining untouched urban woodland bordering Four Mile Creek has become a haven for wildlife including Glen and Piper who often spend time at a secluded pond within the property before returning "home" to "their tree" on the other side of Rea Road..
We don't object to development, but this project will put nearly 1,100 apartments on 53 acres vs Piper Glen's 815 homes on over 850 acres and we fear the wildlife including our cherished Eagles are at risk.
Any advice, resources, recommendations you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully
Donna's Response:
Your email is distressing and I've been thinking about it all day. Developers see wild spaces as "unused" and "vacant" land while you and I know they are full of life. Have you and neighbors documented the wildlife with photos or maybe even journal entries? Photos of the eagles may help in the case against rezoning. Here is an excerpt from the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act:
The Act defines "take" as "pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb." Regulations further define "disturb" as “to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, 1) injury to an eagle, 2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or 3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior" (50 CFR 22.6)
And here is a link to the act: https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act
Developing those acres will surely interfere with the eagles' lives. There is a $100,000 fine (and possible prison) for violations and a developer may be willing to pay that amount if they will get a huge return on what they build (thus the high concentration of homes).
The fact that it is a wetland is important because of the beneficial role it plays in sequestering water and carbon, as well as providing wildlife habitat. Piper Glen was designed to have the wetland and it should be preserved.
I wonder if there is a way for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to do a wildlife survey of the property. If a threatened or endangered species of animal or plant is found it's possible the land may not be developed. Contact Rupert Medford, District Biologist at rupert.medford@ncwildlife.org, 910-975-0577 (cell) or 910-571-9747 (office).
I suggest you and your neighbors contact your city council representative, county commissioner, and NC House representative to voice your concerns. They are supposed to be working for you and the more neighbors you have to write letters and make phone calls, the more chance you have of having them listen and support you. Bombard them! And go to city council meetings, especially the rezoning hearing.
It's difficult to put dollars and cents on wildlife habitat. The truth is, wetlands and forests provide priceless services to us - trees produce oxygen, take up carbon, cool the air, prevent flooding and erosion, and provide homes for wildlife.
I hope my suggestions are helpful. It's an uphill battle with developers and I hope you are successful in preventing the destruction of this patch of wildlife habitat.
Kind regards,
Donna Bolls
President
Charlotte Wildlife Stewards
8 comments:
Thank you for contacting Charlotte Wildlife Stewards. Great information.
Yes Good Info
I have photos of one of the eagles—it flew into my backyard in Glynmoor lakes.
11:37 how amazing! You should email it to Chip Starr if you don't mind sharing. I saw where someone was suggesting that the eagles were just a ploy and that there really weren't any. I've seen them from the driving range for years.
The property should be made into a park or nature preserve. It has sat undeveloped for far too long and now it is a wildlife refuge. Simple easy solution and everybody wins.
Do we know how much RK Investors is willing to pay for the 53 acres? It would be amazing if we could find an investor who would want to purchase it for it to remain a wildlife sanctuary. Also - has anyone contacted the Charlotte Audubon society? They do multiple bird counts per year and should have photos of the bald eagles and their nests.
I live in Piper Glen. The Eagles nest in our backyard view. We have pictures if you need them.
Great information and thank you for all the hard work you've already put into this! While eagles are no longer considered endangered, they are a threatened species. They prefer fish and if they prefer eating fish from the water source on the property in question - development of any kind would disrupt that... especially construction. My numbers are old but at one point North Carolina had only 70 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles in the entire state -- and only a few in this area, which makes Piper and Glen even more special.
I believe many species of turtles are also threatened.
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