How shocking!!!  Someone shot a Bald Eagle!  Why shoot a Bald Eagle, our national bird?  It is not a bird that people eat.

Photo courtesy of The Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

The eagle was shot in the right leg.  The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been taking care of the eagle since Friday. It was found Thursday evening in Mediterra in North Naples.  The care-takers have been nursing the eagle and trying to rehydrate it. Originally the eagle was taken to a local emergency pet veterinarian where via x-rays the bullet was found.

The staff at the Conservancy hopes to nurse the eagle back to health and perform surgery to save its life.

"If the leg doesn’t heal, the eagle would have to be euthanized because federal rules do not allow the Conservancy to release or keep one-legged birds," Barbara Wilson, Conservancy marketing director said.

Shooting a bald eagle is a violation of both state and federal laws. Federally, it is a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

"A first violation of the eagle act is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine," Ed Lewis, special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Subsequent violations are felonies punishable by up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The eagle currently weighs 4 pounds, about half the weight of a healthy eagle, raising concerns about the bird’s health, a Conservancy staff member stated.

“We are not sure what the outcome will be for the eagle,’’ said another staff member.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) held a demonstration at the intersection of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and Pine Ridge Road in North Naples.  They definitely caught the attention of both drivers and pedestrians with the plaid body paint and they were topless.

Tonight at sunset (7:08 PM local time) the Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero Jewish communities begin the observation of Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur is the holiest of days in the Jewish religion.  The observance is also known as the Day of Atonement since the events of Yom Kippur focus on asking and granting forgiveness for one’s transgressions.

Member of the Jewish faith will attend services at a synagogue or temple on the eve and day of Yom Kippur. Prayers which emphasize cleansing of the soul are recited during the day services.

On Yom Kippur, no work is done, business transacted and there is abstainance from food, drink, and sex.

To those of the Naples Jewish community L’Shana Tova and may you have an easy fast.

On July 15th, Chris Palmeri from Business Week discussed how his Mother was told by a major builder that a price reduction (in all likelihood adjustment to existing market conditions) was an incentive.

This reminds me of a visit to a model center from a major builder where the on-site salesperson told my client that a new townhouse was selling for $245,000 and that a similar property across the street were closing at $350,000.  The townhouse if purchased that day would be worth $350,000 in two year!  My client and I looked at each, since I informed him that private economists and economists from the University of Florida were looking at the average price of residential real estate was forecasted to increase between 3 and 7 percent a year. 

Somehow, my math does not work out to the $350,000 the on-site salesperson forecast.

Maybe major builders need to instruct their on-site salespersons to be more careful how they discuss incentives to prospective buyers in a more informed manner.