Jordan Lake

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By eagle UPDATE burn 04/18/2016

I checked the nest this morning.   I saw both parents.  AND one of the parents was feeding a chick!!!! Yes!  I still have not seen both chicks at the same time.  Most likely I am seeing each of the chicks, but just don’t know when I am seeing one or the other.  I will keep monitoring.  Still worried about possible respiratory problems for the next week.

Two of our news programs were very interested in the eagles and burns and have interviewed me.  The WRAL interview will air at 5:30 PM this evening.  The 101.5 FM Gene and Julie Show will air tomorrow morning at 7:25 AM

In the photo below it is fairly easy to see 1 adult – see the white head centered in front of the main trunk.  The other adult is harder to see.  Look to the left of the white head of the first adult and it is mostly a black shadow.  I couldn’t catch a photo of the chick when it briefly appeared.
IMG_6007 04-18-16 @ 09-49-12 McCoy Rd Mccoy 4:18:16

By DANGER, again bald eagle report 04-17-2016
DANGER, AGAIN
There is a second prescribed burn, under an eagle nest, scheduled. I believe this burn may occur on Wednesday. This is the other burn that I have been trying to get delayed until after the eaglets have fledged. WRC is adamant that this burn will happen. The only chance we have to get it stopped is for all of us to make our displeasure loudly heard. Please, contact again any and all of the people on my April 14th posting. If you know of any eagle, bird, wildlife, conservation or wildlife photography group that needs to be made aware of this situation, please share these postings with them.
I have felt all the prayers, thoughts, and meditations of all of you as we work on this problem together. I am so privileged to be a part of such a caring community.
peace and grace,
doc ellen
 WALK8852 04-11-16 @ 11-43-38 Pea Ridge Godiva and 2 yo

By eagle UPDATE prescribed burn 4/17/2016

Update on Eagle prescribed burn, Sunday April 17 7:41 PM

Late this afternoon I saw an adult, perched at the nest. I also saw 1 chick. So we are all still waiting for the second chick to be seen along side of the first one. Both the adult and chick appeared to be calm and acting like eagles should act. That is great to observe. I and the other monitors are keeping a close eye on the nest. I am also still worried about possible respiratory problems from the smoke that lingered for more than 24 hours over the peninsula. But at the distance (1 mile) I am watching from, that is going to be difficult to spot.
In this photo, the parent is on the “Sentinel” perch to the left and above the nest – again with its back to us so look for the white head and tail. The chick is almost centered in the nest. It looks like a black shadow shaped like the upper half of a long necked bottle. Wish I had a longer lens so we could all see more detail.

There is going to be a second posting somewhat later tonight because there is possibly going to be a second burn this coming Wednesday.

peace and grace
doc ellen

WALK0123 04-17-16 @ 17-33-17 McCoy Rd Mccoy 4:17:16

By eagle burn update: April 16, 2016 8:45 PM

We watched the nest again this afternoon.  There was still some wisps of smoke arising about the peninsula.  We saw one parent at the nest for a while.  It left.  Watched 1 chick do some wing flaps.  We saw a parent fly in to the nest but could not see if it was bringing in food and did not see feeding behavior.  Have yet to see both parents together or both chicks at the same time.  So, what we know is that at least one of the parents is flying about and returning to the nest and that there is one chick being active – both observations make me happy.  What will make me happier is to see both chicks at the same time.  The photo was taken this afternoon about 3:45 PM.  If you look closely above the nest and to the left, you can see an adult eagle – it has its back to you so its tail is the easiest way to identify it.  No chicks in this photo.

WALK0036 04-16-16 @ 15-42-58 McCoy Rd Mccoy parent 4:16:16

By UPDATE Eagle burn report 04/16/2016 1:18 PM

This morning I could see one adult perched beside the nest and one chick in the nest. It is good to see the parent and the eaglet – I will feel better when I see both parents at the nest at the same time and both chicks at the same time. Am going back out this afternoon to continue monitoring. There is some residual smoke and low burns in the area. In this photo from this morning the nest tree (can’t really see nest in this shot) is the right hand tree of the two trees to the right of the plume of smoke, way back at the top of the tree line.
peace and grace and oh so many thanks for all of the support from all of you,
doc ellen

WALK9956 04-16-16 @ 08-36-33 McCoy Rd nest smoke 1

By UPDATE on burn at Jordan Lake 4/15/2016 9:18 PM
I was at the lake all day today, along with several other people, monitoring the prescribed burn. I saw both parents and at least 1 of the chicks prior to the start of the burn. We were watching from almost a mile away and cannot tell the chicks apart – so we may have seen both chicks but didn’t know that we did. It was obvious that the parents noted the humans under their nest and one would sometimes stay in the nest while the other parent circled closely above the nest. The fire was started late in the morning. During the burn we could sometimes see one or both of the parents on limbs above the nest or in the nest. I was pleased to see that the parents were staying close to the nest and not wanting to just fly away. Once the burn was well started we could not easily see the nest. By late evening a lot of the smoke had dissipated and we could see one parent at the nest. Please understand this does not mean that something had happened to an adult or a chick just because we could not see them. From our long distance it appeared that the nest and nest tree was intact. There will be a eaglet/nest check tomorrow and in the following days. I’ll be there tomorrow very early. Will continue the updates. The photo is of the peninsula early this afternoon. THANKS to all of you for your thoughts and calls and emails – thanks from the EAGLES especially.
Peace and grace, and I need to get some rest!
doc ellen
 IMG_1457