ORLANDO, Fla., March 20 (UPI) -- Environmentalists are outraged over plans to destroy the nests of three pairs of American bald eagles and several chicks at Orlando's Sanford Airport.
Airport officials say the birds are creating a hazard by hanging around runways, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
The nests could be cut down as soon as this week, the newspaper said.
The city government received permission to get rid of the nests after complaints last fall that as many as 10 bald eagles were hanging around the runways.
Airport employees say efforts to scare the birds away using sirens and fireworks had little effect. A small plane was damaged in November when it struck and killed a young adult eagle during takeoff.
State researchers say there are 20 eagle nests near the airport and 30 nests within five miles, the newspaper said.
