The bald eagle could see for miles on this clear day as she scanned the waters from the perch tree in the middle of the bluff.  They don't seem to be using the nest tree this year.  I have seen an eagle's nest a quarter mile north, and I wonder if they just moved to a new location.  I have also seen neon green airsoft pellets in the park.  The pellets might not physically injure the eagles, but they could cause them to look for a better neighborhood, without the nuisance. 

The bald eagle population in the 48 states was about 400,000 a couple of centuries ago and they were reduced to about 400 breeding pairs by the middle of the 20th century.  Hunting was one of the main causes of death even after hunting eagles was outlawed.  Pesticides and habitat loss contributed to the decline.  there are now over 100,000 eagles in the 48 states because those who care about their welfare have been able to exert more influence than those who still wish to kill them. 

Eagles had nested in the land where Eagle Landing Park is since about 1989.  It is sad that they had to move away since the land was made into a park in 2005.  It is possible they could move back again if those people who wish to protect the eagles would exert their influence over this few people who choose to harass them and drive them away.  Besides the kids with the pellet gun, eagles can be driven away by excessive noise, such as people screaming as they walk along the trail.  I have no idea why people feel the need to scream in the forest.  It seems like they wouldn't be too inconvenienced if they were asked not to scream in the vicinity of the eagles' nest.  If some people would like the eagles to come back, then they should say it is not okay for these few people to drive the eagles away.  If the friends of the eagles remain silent, then a thoughtless few will wield disproportionate power over our environment.  If anyone besides me wants the eagles to come back, they should speak up.