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.
bald eagle chick
Tageagle 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.
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
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
bald eagles, in danger and need your help
DANGER to EAGLES of JORDAN LAKE, please help stop the DANGER
Involved are 4 adult eagles, at least 3 chicks and 3 nests that are in trees in the Jordan Lake Game Lands and a prescribed burn that is planned. This prescribed burn could potentially cause the loss of 4 out of 32 adults, 3 out of possibly 16 eaglets and 3 out of 16 nests at Jordan Lake. This kind of loss is unacceptable to me. I have received a copy of an application from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) to be allowed to do a prescribed burn in 2 forest blocks in which live these 2 eagle families. I have received notice today that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to issue the permit. Once the permit is received, any loss of lives or habitat from the burn would be considered lawfully “permitted”. A “take” is defined as the loss of eagle life, damage to eagles or the destruction of their nests (see further information at end of letter).
The USFWS guidelines set out how to avoid a take:
the burn should be done in non-breeding season (in NC the eagle breeding season is January 1 through June1)
the nest tree should have debris cleared from underneath it (preferably in non-breeding season) and
if there is absolutely no other way to get the burn done except in breeding season: they must do the burn while the chicks are between the ages of 2 weeks and 10 weeks as that is apparently the only time in the chicks’ lives that they might survive the smoke and fire of a prescribed burn.
I am told by the NCWRC that it is “too difficult” to do the burns in these blocks in non-breeding season, and thus they applied for a permit to conduct the burn, so that if there is a bald eagle take they cannot be said to be in non-compliance with the Eagle Management Guidelines and would not be cited or fined for any take that might occur. Today NCWRC received the permit from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Tomorrow, April 15, 2016 NCWRC is going to burn the first of the 2 blocks.
I believe in prescribed burns – I do NOT believe in doing prescribed burns during eagle breeding season. Especially when the NCWRC has been given suggestions as how to do the prescribed burn and not endanger any eagles or their nests.
PLEASE, if you agree with my concerns call or email and express your concerns:
NC Wildlife Resources Commission at 1(800) 662-7137, 919-707-0053 isaac.harrold@ncwildlife.org
Chair, Wildlife Resources Commission, Representative Chris Malone 919-715-3010 Chris.Malone@ncleg.net
US Fish and Wildlife Service at Ulgonda Kirkpatrick (321) 972-9089 ulgonda_kirkpatrick@fws.gov
North Carolina Legislators
State Senate – Tamara Barringer (R-17)
State House – Paul Stam (R-037)
US Senator Richard Burr https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/richard_burr/400054
US Senator Thom Tillis https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/thom_tillis/412668
Share this page on Facebook, twitter and other social media. Copy it and email it. Post your concerns. Contact the NCWRC and the USFWS and ANYONE else you feel might want to help us get the word out.
peace and grace, and thank you
doc ellen
from the Bald Eagle Management Guidelines of 2007
http://www.fws.gov/southeast/es/baldeagle/
Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, “take” is defined as “pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, destroy, molest, or disturb. “Disturb” is defined in regulations as “to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available: (1) injury to an eagle, (2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or (3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior.”
eagle family report: 4-6-2016
Kate is ignoring Quizzical.
He plays with a piece of the nest while Kate feeds herself.
to see the 3 minute video go to
doc ellen's journey 