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Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Residents call to halt Callander's eagle relocation
There is a rising call within Callander to leave the bald eagles alone. The eagles live near Callander's public dock on Lansdowne Street, behind the gravel parking lot on the right side as you head toward the lake. The municipality owns the property, and plans have been underway for over a decade to develop the land and ideally move the library to the location. Although no development date has been set, the municipality is taking steps to encourage the eagles to relocate. Staff are building two tree landings near the current nest in hopes that the birds will choose one of them as a new nesting site . See: Callander prepares for eagle nest relocation Municipal staff have been working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and await final recommendations from the ministry regarding how best to manage the eagle nest when development proceeds. Mayor Robb Noon said, 'We've been trying to get ahead of this, because hopefully, the land will be developed, which is something we've been working toward for ten years.' He added that the municipality is also waiting for recommendations from an environmental consultant. 'So council is sitting in a holding pattern until that happens so we can see the best course of action. We're waiting to see how we can move forward.' Some residents want the municipality to simply leave the eagles and the tree they live in alone. Janis Reed, a long-time Callander resident, shares that sentiment, and has created a petition on to stop the relocation. At the time of writing, 1,515 people have signed the petition. Reed is not only concerned about the eagles, but the pine tree as well. Reed estimates the towering white pine — Ontario's provincial tree — is between 170 and 204 years old. 'It could be the oldest tree in Callander,' Reed told BayToday. 'This tree would have started growing between 1820 and 1855. Callander was established in 1888. I believe that this tree should be designated a Heritage Tree and have a plaque placed in front of it to recognize this instead of cutting it down.' She also shared concerns about the eagles, which by her estimates, have been there since 2018. The eagles are unique, Reed emphasized, and have become a feature of the town, with many people stopping by the area to catch a glimpse. Reed explained she has spoken with many bird watchers who take a keen interest in the eagles. Some have said the eagles will probably not relocate within the area. Instead, they predict the birds will simply fly away to another region. 'They'll probably just move on and we'll have lost them from our downtown core, where many people come to see them,' Reed said. BayToday spoke with local naturalist and bird photographer Stephen O'Donnell on the subject, and he shared Reed's concerns. He noted that it's important to protect the eagles as the species continues to increase its numbers. O'Donnell said, 'What irritates me is that the eagles were on the brink of extinction, and now they're coming back and everybody's thrilled about it,' However, 'Now we're losing our respect for them again.' 'We should be working with wildlife, not against it,' O'Donnell emphasized. He also noted that of the many times he's photographed the eagles, 'There are always people watching and pointing at the eagles.' 'Believe it or not, those eagles draw quite a number of people to that little boat launch,' O'Donnell said. Asked what the town should do, O'Donnell said, 'Just let it be.' He added, 'At some point in time we need to realize our place in nature and where we fit in. We shouldn't be thinking that we're the supreme being.' Reed held similar thoughts, 'We urge the Municipality of Callander to reconsider this decision and take action to protect and preserve the heritage white pine and the bald eagles who reside there.' Mayor Noon added 'Our natural environment is a big draw to Callander, and the eagles are a part of that. We want to do what we can to protect that. Everybody's on board trying to do the best for these eagles.' David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
19-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Callander prepares for eagle nest relocation
The eagles living near Callander's dock on Lancaster Street may find themselves looking for new digs. As the municipality plans for the future development of the property, the council has been preparing to relocate the eagles to safer ground. This fall, staff will construct a nesting platform approximately 30 meters (100 feet) from the current nest location. However, this plan is pending approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Municipal staff are submitting a formal request to the ministry to authorize the relocation. Mayor Robb Noon said, 'We're just preparing for the inevitability of having to move them. We're trying to get it in place this year, so that it's there for next year.' The municipality owns 3.4 acres off Lansdowne Street, with 300 feet of waterfrontage on Callander Bay. Plans have been underway to develop that property, under the working title 'Waterfront Place.' Municipal staff detailed in a release, 'In 2012, the Municipality purchased the Waterfront Place property with the long-term vision of creating a vibrant hub that connects residents and visitors to Callander Bay. Since then, Council has prioritized this site for public and residential development, including a civic library, green space, and trails.' See: Next steps begin for Callander's Waterfront Place The eagle's nest rests within a towering pine tree within this land, and the tree will have to go if development occurs. However, Noon noted, 'We're only going to move them when we're ready to move forward with the project.' In a report to council, staff emphasized, 'The Municipality of Callander recognizes the environmental significance of Bald Eagles and the sensitivity of any proposed intervention.' Further, 'Callander is proud to be home to a pair of nesting Bald Eagles. Their presence is a sign of our thriving natural environment—and one we deeply value and aim to protect.' The plan is to build the nesting platform in the fall, not to interfere with the eagle's breeding cycle. If there are eaglets this year, they will have flown the nest by fall, as detailed in the Government of Ontario's guide to bald eagles. Most Ontario bald eagles head south in the fall. The bald eagle was listed as an endangered species in Ontario. The bird was on the species at risk list for almost 50 years. However, with numbers rising, the eagle was removed from the endangered species list in May 2023. At the time, David Piccini, then Ontario's Minister of the Environment, said, 'Bringing back the bald eagle is an environmental success story that we can all be proud of.' However, the municipality is aware of the significance of moving a nest, and in a report to council, staff noted, 'This recommendation [to relocate] represents a balanced and thoughtful response to a complex situation—one that respects both the ecological importance of the Bald Eagle and the community's longstanding vision for the Waterfront Place development.' David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Ottawa Citizen
19-06-2025
- General
- Ottawa Citizen
Callander prepares for eagle nest relocation
Article content The eagles living near Callander's dock on Lancaster Street may find themselves looking for new digs. Article content As the municipality plans for the future development of the property, the council has been preparing to relocate the eagles to safer ground. This fall, staff will construct a nesting platform approximately 30 meters (100 feet) from the current nest location. Article content Article content Article content However, this plan is pending approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Municipal staff are submitting a formal request to the ministry to authorize the relocation. Article content Article content Mayor Robb Noon said, 'We're just preparing for the inevitability of having to move them. We're trying to get it in place this year, so that it's there for next year.' Article content The municipality owns 3.4 acres off Lansdowne Street, with 300 feet of waterfrontage on Callander Bay. Plans have been underway to develop that property, under the working title 'Waterfront Place.' Article content Municipal staff detailed in a release, 'In 2012, the Municipality purchased the Waterfront Place property with the long-term vision of creating a vibrant hub that connects residents and visitors to Callander Bay. Since then, Council has prioritized this site for public and residential development, including a civic library, green space, and trails.' Article content Article content The eagle's nest rests within a towering pine tree within this land, and the tree will have to go if development occurs. Article content However, Noon noted, 'We're only going to move them when we're ready to move forward with the project.' Article content In a report to council, staff emphasized, 'The Municipality of Callander recognizes the environmental significance of Bald Eagles and the sensitivity of any proposed intervention.' Further, 'Callander is proud to be home to a pair of nesting Bald Eagles. Their presence is a sign of our thriving natural environment—and one we deeply value and aim to protect.' Article content The plan is to build the nesting platform in the fall, not to interfere with the eagle's breeding cycle. If there are eaglets this year, they will have flown the nest by fall, as detailed in the Government of Ontario's guide to bald eagles. Most Ontario bald eagles head south in the fall.
