America adopted the bald eagle as the nation’s symbol in 1782. Bald eagles are large, powerful birds whose geographic range extends throughout the United States and Canada including Florida. There are approximately 1,133 bald eagles in the State of Florida and 41 reported active eagles’ nests in Sarasota County.

• Bald eagles typically live near water bodies where they prey on fish, the main staple of their diet.

  • They also feed on small mammals, reptiles and carrion. 

• Eagles are migratory and wintering eagles tend to head south in October and November when prey becomes limited.

• These territorial birds mate for life. 

  • They build their nests in the tops of mature trees, snags (dead trees), cliffs and even communication towers or poles.  

  • Nesting season in the southeast generally extends from October 1 to May 15.

Since Aug. 8, 2007 the bald eagle is no longer on the Federal list of Threatened and Endangered Species.

• However, the bald eagle is still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). 

• Both the Eagle Act and MBTA protect the species from a variety of harmful actions and impacts including prohibiting killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.

• On June 5, 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines to aid in successful implementation of the Eagle Act and the MBTA.

You can also locate eagle’s nests by via the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Eagle Nest Locator.

Eagle nests and development in Sarasota County

• If an eagle’s nest is located on or near a property that is slated for development, the county will require proof of coordination from USFWS prior to issuing a Sarasota County building permit.

  • This may include, but is not limited to, demonstration of compliance with the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines and completion of the self-certification protocol.

  • If the proposed development is not consistent with the Guidelines and the self-certification protocol cannot be successfully completed, a permit from USFWS may be required prior to Sarasota County building permit approval.

For questions about the development of a property in Sarasota County located near eagle nests, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for Resource Protection.

For more information on bald eagle regulations visit:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or

• E-mail the Regional Office Migratory Birds at SEmigratorybirds@fws.gov or call

• Resee Collins at 404-679-7051 for questions pertaining to obtaining a bald eagle impact permit.

For help interpreting the Guidelines contact Al Begazo at Alfredo_Begazo@fws.gov or 772-562-3909 ext. 234.
 

Report sick or injured eagles or the malicious destruction or harassment of eagles and their nests to the FWC Bureau of Law Enforcement at 1-888-404-3922.

For more information on bald eagles read the USFWS document entitled Bald Eagle Natural History and Sensitivity to Human Activity Information or visit:

	FWC
	USFWS Species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Species)
	USFWS Migratory Bird (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Migratory Birds)
	Audubon Society

Contact Sarasota County's Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program at 941-861-5000 to learn how the county program helps protect eagle habitat.