Birders want permanent nest for Waco bald eagles

WACO, Texas (AP) — Fans of the bald eagles that nest around Lake Waco want to a permanent nesting site for the iconic raptors.

The Central Texas Audubon Society and Waco's Cameron Park Zoo propose building a 40-foot tall steel nesting platform to replace dead cottonwood trees the birds have been using in recent years.

The Waco Tribune-Herald reports the platform also would have solar-powered video cameras to provide Internet users a constant view of the doings in the nest.

Proponents say the $25,000 platform and camera system would be privately finances and maintained by the zoo. Central Texas Audubon Society President Janet Wallace says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake, is helping select a spot "that won't be too accessible to people."

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Information from: Waco Tribune-Herald, http://www.wacotrib.com