This noteworthy event made the local news because eagles, unlike some other species, have had a difficult time adapting to development and suburban sprawl. But there they were.
National treasure meets natural treasure.
But unfortunately for the eagles, their nesting site just happens to be about a half-mile from the Potomac River on a piece of open land that a developer plans to turn into a minor city of sorts. Developer Milton V. Peterson, of the Northern Virginia-based Peterson Cos., purchased the large tract of land to develop into something he's calling Harbor Place. He plans to develop the land into a combination of apartments, malls, movie theaters, offices and the like. While county officials were thrilled with the proposed development and embraced it as a tremendous economic opportunity, environmentalists were saddened and horrified by the potential loss of one more beautiful open space. It's against federal law to disturb a bald eagle or the tree where it is nesting.