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Committee closes designated Bridle Trail areas during eagle nesting season
Summary
The Great Island Advisory Committee voted to close designated portions of the Bridle Trail from Feb. 1 to July 15, in line with Connecticut DEEP guidance; signage will be posted by Feb. 1 and dogs remain prohibited year-round.
The Town of Darien Great Island Advisory Committee voted Jan. 22 to restrict public access to designated portions of the Bridle Trail from Feb. 1 through July 15 to protect nesting bald eagles, acting on recommendations from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Chair Monica McNally told the committee there are “two eagles living on the Island,” and that the official nesting period runs from Feb. 1 to July 15. After a site visit with a DEEP wildlife expert, committee member Mike Burke moved to amend access rules to close parts of the Bridle Trail during that period in areas identified by signage; Mark Adiletta seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Ms. McNally said signage identifying open and closed areas will be in place by Feb. 1 and reminded the public that dogs are not allowed on the Bridle Trail at any time. The motion’s implementation will follow DEEP guidance about which sections should be closed; the committee did not specify exact trail segments at the meeting.
Why it matters: The seasonal restriction is intended to reduce disturbance to nesting eagles and protect sensitive habitat. The committee’s action establishes a near-term management step ahead of the nesting season and assigns the project team to post signage by Feb. 1.
Next steps: Committee members plan to implement signage as indicated; final enforcement and any longer-term rule changes would be subject to follow-up by town staff and any applicable boards. The committee did not vote on enforcement mechanisms or penalties at this meeting.
