Bald eagles in Florida continue to expand their range, establishing new nests and securing the future of species that once appeared close to extinction.

The number of active bald eagle nests in Florida hit 1,457 in the latest count, up nearly 9 percent from 2008, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Tuesday, in a news conference timed for eve of the July 4 holiday.

A well-known eagle's nest stands off Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines. In Palm Beach County, which offers more of the tall pine trees favored by eagles, there are now 14 nests, four of which were discovered last year.

After a rough 150 years or so, when Florida's eagles were hunted for feathers for ladies' hats, bulldozed out of their trees for housing developments and - most important - poisoned with the insecticide DDT, the majestic birds have staged one of the most impressive recoveries of any species. Down to 88 active nests in 1973, they have repopulated their old range and established nests on the fringes of cities.

"I think very few people know how close the nation came in the 1960s to losing its national symbol to extinction," said Charles Lee, advocacy director for Audubon of Florida, which operates a birds of prey center in Maitland that has rehabilitated and returned to the wild 450 bald eagles.

The nest in Pembroke Pines, west of Interstate 75, has seen at least nine eaglets hatch, said Ken Schneider, a member of South Florida Audubon who blogs at rosyfinch.com. Although the first eight successfully flew off, the most recent eaglet, hatched in January, did not.

"It did well but disappeared suddenly when it was about 62 days old," Schneider said. "It was not quite ready for flight. We searched for it under and around the nest to no avail, and never saw it again."

Florida eagles are up to 20 percent smaller than their northern cousins. But they are abundant, representing the largest eagle population in the United States, outside of Minnesota and Alaska.

"I think the reason we have so many is they have good foraging opportunities," said Michelle van Deventer, the wildlife agency's Bald Eagle Management Plan coordinator. "About 80 percent of their diet is fish, and Florida being surrounded by water gives them lots of opportunities to find their favorite food."

Despite the banning of DDT, threats remain. Once the economy recovers, land development may crank into gear again. Although it's illegal to destroy an eagle's nest, state law allows development within 660 feet of one, provided the developer takes steps to minimize the impact.

Lee called for the federal government to move forward with funding the planned Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge, which would be assembled from agricultural land north of Lake Okeechobee. With lakes, rivers, open range and tall trees, this is ideal bald eagle habitat, he said. About 600 active nests stand in Osceola, Polk, Okeechobee and Orange counties - more than the total that existed in the lower 48 states in the mid-1960s, he said.

"The concern that we have for the eagle is loss of habitat. We already are seeing competition for nesting sites and signs in some areas that development is excluding nesting sites and pushing nesting sites together."

dfleshler@tribune.com, 954-356-4535

Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

As divers descended along a yellow line Monday, clear, blue water turned slightly gray about 20 feet below the surface.

Then through the haze, a ghostly image began to appear, the unmistakable shape of a ship - the 165-foot former Coast Guard cutter Mohawk, which had been sunk a few hours earlier as Mohawk Veterans Memorial Reef.

Related link: Interactive tour of the Mohawk at its final resting place

"We were coming down the line; it was a little murky, and, all of a sudden, we saw 'Mohawk' on the stern," said Ramiro Palma, owner of Scubavice in Fort Myers. "It was just beautiful. This wreck is going to be freaking fabulous. It's going to be a huge impact on this area."

Miami-Dade Historic Maritime Museum Inc. donated the ship to Lee County; the cost of towing, cleaning and sinking her was covered by a $1.3 million grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District.

More than 100 boats showed up Monday for the scuttling on Charlie's Reef, 30 miles west of Redfish Pass. After six explosive charges ripped through her hull at 12:40 p.m., the Mohawk, which launched 14 attacks against German U-boats during World War II, listed to port and threatened to roll over and sink on her side.

But she righted herself and settled upright on the bottom, which is more aesthetically pleasing for divers.

Also aesthetically pleasing is the fact the Mohawk was sent to the bottom in fighting trim: She had been painted in wartime camouflage, and replica guns and a lifeboat had been added, although the lifeboat tore loose when the Mohawk sank.

Among the vessels on site Monday was the 27-foot FGCU research vessel Eagle, whose four divers got into the water at about 4 p.m., after inspection divers had declared the wreck safe and Lee County Sheriff's Office divers had made a series of dives.

"It looks really cool with the camouflage and guns," FGCU research diver Lacey Smith said. "I've been on other wrecks before, and those are just empty. This wreck is awesome. People need to come here to dive it, to experience it.".....

As you may have seen, the Florida Conservation Coalition, in

 partnership with many of our member organizations, held an event

 at Silver River State Park recently to call for the protection and

restoration of the Silver Springs watershed. The event was attended

by over 1,700 concerned citizens and brought national attention

to the plight of one of Florida's natural wonders.