Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 4 photos 01/29/2019

By neighdoctor January 29, 2019 Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 4 photos 01/29/2019

First Nest: Hatch!!!

 

Since I cannot see into the nest, I have to reply on indirect evidence that an egg(s) have hatched.

Mom Kate is showing one of the behaviors.

In her talons she has a mat of litter that has been soiled by the chick.

All birds keep their nests very clean and remove the soiled nesting materials.

Eagles take the used litter far from the nest before letting it drop to the ground.

 

 

Dad Petruchio is showing the other good indicator that there has been a hatch: feeding behavior.

Here he is bringing a small fish to the nest.

 

 

He then stands just within the nest, pulls the fish apart and leans over to feed the chick.

 

 

It didn’t take Petruchio more than a minute to feed the small chick.  

Dad Petruchio often takes a moment, as in this photo, and just watches the chick.

 

 

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Jordan Lake Dam: Puzzled 2-year-old Bald Eagle

By neighdoctor January 28, 2019 Jordan Lake Dam: Puzzled 2-year-old Bald Eagle

This 2-year-old bald eagle was puzzled and determined.

He knew there had to be fish in the water below. 

 He was certain of that … or maybe not.  Apparently not.  

After this single long hard look, he eased back into forward flight and went down the river.

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Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest: First Nest, 2 photos, 01/26/2019

By neighdoctor January 26, 2019 Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest: First Nest, 2 photos, 01/26/2019

First Nest

 

Parent Bald Eagle hand-off of nest duties.

I heard Kate start to call from the nest and knew that she was seeing Petruchio.

He was out of my sight, then I blinked and he was in the nest.

 

 

2 blinks later, Kate was out of the nest and way down the cove, heading for the main lake.

 

 

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Jordan Lake Neighborhood, 3 photos, 1-24-2019

By neighdoctor January 24, 2019 Jordan Lake Neighborhood, 3 photos, 1-24-2019

Jordan Lake is always full of surprises and contrasts.

It is home to both the largest and smallest raptors in the US.

Both of the birds below were very proud of their catches this afternoon.

 

American Bald Eagle

 

length: 34-43 inches   weight: 168 oz   wingspan 72-96 inches

 

American Kestrel (also the smallest falcon in the US)

 

length: 9-12 inches    weight: 3.9 oz   wingspan 20-24 inches

 

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Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest reports, 2 nests, 3 photos 01-22-2019

By neighdoctor January 22, 2019 Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest reports, 2 nests, 3 photos 01-22-2019

First Nest

 

I visited First Nest today and found Petruchio preening on a limb near the nest.

Having finished getting all his feathers clean and straight, he gave me a hello flight and soared closely over my head.

 

 

 

 

H&G Nest

 

I thought I would show you the nest … from where I stand to watch the home of Hershey and Godiva!

Can you find the nest?

 

 

 

 

And, then show you a crop of the same photo and you can see Godiva perched in front of her nest.  She hasn’t laid her eggs yet.

 

 

 

 

 

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Jordan Lake Dam, Golden Hour Bald Eagle

By neighdoctor January 21, 2019 Jordan Lake Dam, Golden Hour Bald Eagle

There were four of us friends, waiting as the sun eased down the sky, approaching the golden hour.

It was windy, cold and my long day had started out in the wee hours chasing the lunar eclipse.

We watched the sky looking for the long wings and great body of a bald eagle.

As the air became gilded with the setting sun, an eagle appeared.

She landed and we watched as she looked for a fish.

When she finally launched it was to head down river into the shadows.

We sighed and headed home in the remnants of the beautiful light.

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