In August of 2007, the bald eagle was delisted from its threatened status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As required by the ESA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will work with state wildlife agencies to monitor eagles at least five years after the delisting. In 2008, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) adopted the Bald Eagle Management Plan that enlists the support of local governments to help play a role in bald eagle conservation and management. The City of Cape Coral has provided assistance to FWC for several years to help monitor eleven nesting pairs and over twenty nesting sites throughout the city. In addition, the City has also adopted a local eagle protection ordinance that further protects, enhances, and preserves the nest of the eagle and its immediate environs.
The City’s Eagle Watch Program was initially conceived in the Spring of 2011 to augment the current eagle monitoring practices during the nesting season. The Eagle Watch Program provides an opportunity for the public to become involved and educate themselves about the nesting habits of the bald eagle, while also assisting the City and State in collecting valuable data. The Eagle Watch Program will also serve to reduce staff time spent for monitoring and documenting eagle behavior. City staff will continue to monitor and inspect nesting sites throughout the duration of the bald eagle nesting season, but will have supplemental data provided through the Eagle Watch Program.