AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) — A video posted by John Braswell, a resident closely monitoring the bald eagle nest in Auburn, Alabama, revealed a devastating sight Saturday morning: The tree cradling the nest had been cut down, scattering its contents.
For years, the nest was home to “Pam and Jim,” a pair of bald eagles beloved by the community.
As neighbors gathered near the site off N. College Street across from AU Fisheries many were brought to tears as Pam and Jim were seen flying in tandem over the area where their nest once stood, appearing to search for their missing home. “It’s just so sad,” one neighbor said. “They keep circling the spot—it’s like they’re looking for it.”
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The destruction of the nest has sparked outrage in the community, with Mayor Ron Anders and the entire Auburn City Council expressing anger and frustration over the actions of Hughston Homes. The City of Auburn has directed its legal team to pursue an investigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to determine if the developer violated federal regulations in removing the nest.
City of Auburn statement
On Saturday, the City of Auburn issued a statement condemning the removal of the nest, which occurred just days before a scheduled meeting with the developer to discuss alternatives for preserving the eagles’ nesting area. “Like many of you, the Auburn City Council and City staff were gravely disappointed to learn that the tree containing the bald eagles’ nest at the Heritage Ridge development has now been cut down by the developer and landowner, Edgar Hughston Builder, Inc.,” the statement read…