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>>> Wind whips across this valley floor on a chilly afternoon.
This preserve snuggles up against civilization. >>> We are about a mile and a half or so west
of the community of Ramona. >>> That's 35 miles northeast of downtown
San Diego, the land mostly flat and a boulder peeking through here and there and the meadow.
Once targeted by developers, this houses an ecosystem system that has long been under
siege. The Ramona grass lands is an echo preserve
and it's close to Ramona, even sow it's a place where wildlife has found a home.
>>> To have them nesting here was completely unexpected, no one anticipated having nesting
bald eagles as part of the success here in the Ramona glass lands.
>>> The nest gives the eagles a clear view of the surrounding valley and the water nearby
attracts ducks and geese, for a steady food supply.
And the nest will be perfect for a baby. >>> It takes many months for them to construct
a nest it's 5 to 6 feet in diameter and can be 2 to 3 feet deep and they grab big sticks,
usually 3, 4 feet long, good sized diameter, they can collect large pieces of wood and
they wave them together. Weave them together.
>>> The bald eagle is one of the Raptors of the world and we have chosen them to be our
national symbol. >>> The San Diego park says there are a couple
of bald eagles here and MayÊsays the Ramona nest shows that the recovers are being made
from the DDT period. >>> The birds were breaking their own eggs
and once the toxins was removed from the environment the birds recovered.
>>> The eagle population dropped to 500 breeding pairs in the lower 48 states, now there are
close to 10,000, California has 200 breeding pairs but this is only the second nest in
San Diego county, the other is near lake henShaw, MayÊsays it's good to see them expanding
their beading. >>> This happens to be set up in a meadow
and the birds themselves are comfortable with picking that site but we have to be careful
as observers to make sure we don't encroach on a nest site and disturb them.
>>> Biologists at Ramona's research institute will make sure the nest succeeds.
It is practically within view of Chris Meador. >>> Through the years we have worked with
the nature conservancy, and we have secured and protected this land and we now believe
that the bald eagles, for one, have a secure population and a safe place here to nest.
>>> The institute focuses attention on the Raptors that live in the valley.
Hosting a pair of dual bald eagles is something they never planned to have in their area.
>>> We would hope if this nest is protected properly they will keep trying to have which
I cans. >>> They say the birds are mature enough to
have chicks, because their heads are white. This could be a beading home for years to
come. Erik Anderson, KPBS news.