Jordan Lake. Bald eagle parents Loblolly and Pitch have not returned to the nest since 3/21. The chick has not been seen since 3/14, two weeks after it hatched. At 2 weeks, the chick cannot thermoregulate and must have the warmth of a parent to survive. The parents could no longer tolerate the human and canine intrusions, which when added to other natural stressors led to the chick being lost. The park refused to shut the gate to the shelter area and give the very best possible protection to the bald eagle family. A chick of our National Symbol lost, gone. Human disturbance helped bring this untimely ending to these parent bald eagles’ breeding cycle and sorrow to our hearts. The loss of the chick also meant the failure of our best opportunity to once again have our own bald eagle webcam. The closure of a single gate would have given the greatest possible protection, but the park refused to take that simple step.
My heartfelt thanks both to all of you my wonderfully supportive readers and to the caring people of North Carolina and beyond for your steadfast concern and hopes for the Big Pine Nest family.