Decorah eaglet dies from electrocution

[cyberswede]

A Decorah eaglet died from electrocution last Tuesday, the Raptor Resource Project announced Sunday.

Eaglet Four was found dead lying underneath a utility pole between Keota and Harper in rural Keokuk County, the non-profit group wrote on its Facebook page. She was the last bird from the 2014 Decorah alumni to remain in the wild.

Four's cause of death was verified to be electrocution. She was the fourth Decorah eaglet the group knows died from electrocution.

{snip}

Raptor Resource Project listed several ways people can help. The group's suggestions include:

- Finding out whether utilities have avian protection plans and push adopting a plan if none exists Visit. http://www.aplic.org/APPs.php for details.
- Reporting electrocuted birds and other animals to power companies.
- Reporting collisions to power companies. Although eagles have been electrocuted perching on poles, collisions are also deadly. A number of deterrents can be installed.
- Making concerns known to an electric cooperative board. If you are a member of an electric cooperative. "Electrocutions destroy equipment, require unscheduled repair time, and are expensive," the group wrote.

more at link: http://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2015/03/08/decorah-eagles-eaglet-death-electrocution/24621611/?hootPostID=d81ca1233b2d095dbc22c1be2a68a9b9

[Little Star]

1. Sad :(

[yeoman6987]

2. I am so glad that my development has all of

our electrical lines underground. Those lines are ugly and obviously destroy some birds. All electrical lines underground by 2020. Get to it filthy rich electrical companies.

[2naSalit]

3. That's sad...

I watched her hatch and grow and leave the nest!!

The parents have another set of three eggs that were lain between 2/19 and 2/25.

[MBS]

4. : (

Raptor Resource Project has some excellent suggestions which must be implemented. Note that the power pole in question was deemed unsafe.. If the power companies do not step up to the plate on their own accord, citizens must push them to do so. Speaking for myself, I'd happily contribute $20 or so if I were guaranteed that the $ would go directly to upgrading all power poles in regions with high concentrations of eagles, condors, and other power-line-vulnerable species.
More from the article:

A consultant told the group the pole near where Four was found was deemed unsafe and suggested ways to improve the safety of the pole and others in the area.

The Raptor Resource Project forwarded the suggestions to Alliant Energy's Interstate Power and Light Company. The group is waiting for a response, according to the Facebook post.

[Dont call me Shirley]

5. Eaglet Four...

[benld74]

6. Didn't another meet the same fate last year??

[MBS]

7. yes, it was the oldest and strongest one

Recently fledged, flying strong and high. . . .only lasted about a week after it left the nest before it ran into a power line.
Seriously, they need to upgrade those power lines ASAP.

Then the second one broke her (I think it was a she) wing-- at least she (he?) is alive, in the care of a raptor rehabilitation/education program. Once her (his) tail feathers grow back in, she (he?) will be an education eagle. But because of the way the wing healed, it will never fly

[cwydro]

8. Very sad to hear this yesterday.

I frequently am in the chat room there, and they announced it yesterday.

[femmocrat]

9. Nooooo!

That is heartbreaking.

We love our Hayes Eagles, so I can imagine how heart-broken the Decorah community must be.