YEAY! I managed to make a video, not near the best or even better quality, but you can definitely see the two chicks in the nest that was in the midst of the prescribed burn on Friday. The larger chick does a lot of wing stretches and then reaches to the right and teases the smaller chick and they do a couple of feints at each other. I am so glad to know that both are up to playing with each other.
raptors
Categoryeagle 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.
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
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
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.
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
doc ellen's journey 