Jordan Lake: This morning I captured 3 out of 4 pied-billed Grebes. Pretty certain that is two pairs of them. They are about ready to head back north for their breeding season. Enjoy the little grebes!
B. Everett Jordan Lake
TagLadyLake and her Chick
Jordan Lake. LL&H nest. I don’t know if there’s a second chick in the nest or not. The chick appears to be somewhere around five weeks of age… I don’t know the actual hatch date. Like all bald eagle chicks, this one is very alert to see what it’s parent is doing! I took this photo a couple of days ago in the sunshine and thought: you know, this gray morning we could do with some brightness and light. Enjoy!
Human Intrusion at Big Pine Nest
Jordan Lake: Two park visitors crossed inside the protection boundary at the shelter building this afternoon. Mom Loblolly went yelling up into the air and circled several times before coming in for a landing way north of the nest. An angry bald eagle comes in for a confrontational landing with its feet dangling … ready to strike in any direction. Usually bald eagles land with feet up and forward to catch the branch. However in this case, we know mom bald eagle was not chasing another bald eagle, but was trying to frighten off the humans. It is very rare for a bald eagle to actually attack a human. The bald eagle parents’ ultimate defense is to simply abandon the nest – I sure hope Loblolly and Pitch don’t react in that way. Mom Loblolly was protecting her nest the ancient bald eagle way but the people didn’t care or react to her efforts. After about five minutes or so the people got in their car and left. I ached for Mom Loblolly and Dad Pitch … that they are still being harassed by humans.
Bald Eagle Courtship Death Spiral Used as Defense
Mom Loblolly is Wet!
Jordan Lake: Big Pine Nest. Bald eagles hate getting wet. Being soaking wet really ticks them off. They tend to look towards the heavens and say why didn’t you rain somewhere else? So, this morning I found Mom Loblolly with all of her wings, head and body feathers spread out as she was trying to drip dry. I sure was glad to be able to get back out and check on the Big Pine Nest because the whole Ebenezer Day-Use area had been closed for the last couple of days due to repair work that had to be done on the water system.
Osprey Pair Reunited
Jordan Lake: Osprey mom and dad. Mom showed up first, all full of herself! She occasionally chirped from her perch. Then far off, I heard a second chirp. Dad appeared and all was right in the world as the couple reunited after their long solo migrations.
doc ellen's journey 