Jordan Lake State Park

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By JL Eagle nest report; H&G nest 2 photos, 1 video link 4-22-2107
H&G nest
The bald eagle chick Raisin was branching when dad Hershey arrived with a fish.
Chick Granola had been to the right of the main tree trunk but quickly came for his share of food.
In my experience the father eagles are more prone to feed both chicks at the same time.
The moms tend to feed the largest chick first until it is full and then feeds the smallest chick.
There is a short clip at https://youtu.be/iKL5OhnTpKQ

By JL Eagle Nest report, H&G nest Great News! April 18, 2017
I want to share with all of you the wonderful results of a conversation I had today with Mr. Gordon Myers, Director of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. He has been thinking about not only our concerns about the bald eagles of Jordan Lake and prescribed burns, but other’s concerns about the lake’s large ecosystem. Mr. Myers felt the time had come when a study group composed of the concerned entities and citizens who love, enjoy and cherish Jordan Lake and its gamelands needed to get together. Mr. Myers asked me if I would join this group: to help start a journey toward balancing the needs of the trees and the eagles, the waters and the turtles, the forest and the deer, the meadows and butterflies.
I resoundingly said yes. Mr. Myers is putting all prescribed burns in blocks with bald eagle nests on hold for more than the two weeks delay we had been asking for. He wants input from the very diverse set of interests he is asking to join the study so decisions about things like prescribed burns can be made in concert and agreement. Thank you, Mr. Myers.
That is Hershey landing this morning in front of the H&G nest. Just behind his head you can see the beak of Granola. To the left and looking owlish is Raisin.

By JL Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 1 photo, 1 video 04/09/2017
HC is in the nest and Coffee is way UPSTAIRS, almost at the top of the photo.
Both chicks are branching: jumping, climbing and wing wapping from branch to branch above the nest.
They keep the nest below them or just to the side as a safety net
as they build up stength and coordination for their upcoming first flight.
I watch for their yellow feet: sometimes this is the only way I can find them!

By JL Eagle Nest Report: First Nest needed help, 6 photos, 04/03/2017

I want to thank the Army Corps of Engineers for helping First Nest today.
Some materials had been left on the shore very close to the nest and needed to be moved before the rains of the coming week.
Jon Bannerman and Blake Johnson of ACE called me and we talked through a quiet, slow approach and pickup.
The eagle chick HC had begun branching today and this is a very critical time for a chick.
If a branching chick gets startled he thinks he can fly, but the chick doesn’t yet have the needed wing strength.
At this point the chick has only been hopping from branch to branch and if he spooks and tries to fly he will often fall instead.
As you can see in the 1st photo, Coffee on the left and H C on the right, watched ACE approach, 2nd photo.
The chicks stayed attentive and inquisitive, but because ACE was quiet and slow, the chicks stayed in the nest.
As ACE left, H C went back to branching, photos 3-6. Watch for his orange feet to follow his movements.