Fly Eagle Fly!

Ever wonder where your state taxes are going? Well if you live in Pennsylvania, part of them are going to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), a noble organization to be sure. But lately, the DEP has been pursuing a legal case that, well, is for the birds.

It all goes back to 2004, when a baby bald eaglet was discovered by wildlife workers on Petty's Island, a small island in the Delaware River. The eaglet died en route to the wildlife rescue center and the workers blame a developer, Cherokee, that was planning to build a golf course and hotel on the island. According to the DEP, Cherokee roused the eaglet from its nest by a bird expert hired by the company and killed the bird.

Never mind that a trial judge has already determined that the company did not intentionally harm or intend to harm the bird. Acting DEP Commissioner Bob Martin will not give up the ship. "Clearly harassment did occur in this case, and we want people to know we're not going to tolerate that type of behavior when it comes to endangered species," he said. To which, the Superior Court Judge who dismissed the case remarked, that the DEP has pursued the issue with determination "akin to the passion I have seen in a death-penalty case."

Now I like eagles as much as the next person and believe strongly in protecting endangered species, BUT, the larger question, as the trial court judge pointed out, is why the state chose to relocate these eagles to Petty's Island to begin with, since the site is a known dumping ground for the Citgo Petroleum Corporation.

The eagles are the only ones who have apparently gotten the message. They abandoned the site on their own, moving to one less toxic about a year after they were moved to Petty's Island. Lo and behold, the bald eagle pair produced an eaglet that thrived and then flew away.