bald eagle flight

Tag

By Big Pine Nest Update

I began to realize as this past week went on, that there were no Nest Lining Materials that were trying to be brought to the nest by Mom Loblolly and Dad Pitch. This is critical because it was telling me that I needed to double check my possible egg laying dates. The nest lining materials are the last materials that go into the nest before Mom Loblolly lays her precious eggs. I was seeing lots of repair sticks trying to get to the nest (and often diverted by human intrusion) but no talons full of clutches of soft grasses. These grass materials, usually scooped from shorelines where the waves have stacked up these soft stems, are used to line the inside of the nest. This lining is then wallowed out and arranged by beak by Mom to make a protective nest bowl for the eggs and for the comfort of the incubating parent. So, over the last day or so, in consultation with the observations of others and their thoughts, the possible egg-laying date has been modified to February 1. Now, that gives us a little extra time to work on getting the gate closed so these parents are no longer harassed. It is always interesting when working with a new nest of only one prior breeding cycle because the parameters are just not really known until you have a couple of breeding seasons to use for data sources – that’s why field notes exist! So breathe a little tiny bit easier with me and let’s continue the CAMPAIGNING to get the gate CLOSED. There is now ADDITIONAL CONTACT information for you to use … it is available on the post for January 8 and the link to the same list with active hyperlinks is at my blog site https://docellensjourney.com/2022/01/08/help-big-pine-bald-eagle-nest-a-dozen-contacts/(opens in a new tab)! 1st photo is Mom Loblolly, 2nd photo is Dad Pitch this morning circling over their nest.

By Update Big Pine Bald Eagle Nest

Big Pine Nest update: The gate is STILL OPEN. In the photo, that is Dad bald eagle once again trying to get a repair stick to his nest and once again having to bolt from the area. Yesterday morning there was a woman, holding a camera, standing inside the shelter building looking at the nest. She was INSIDE the single rope, single saw-horse “barrier” that is supposed to stop people from being exactly where she was. The fact that the woman was inside the “barrier” was through the utter failure of the inadequate planning of those tasked with protecting the bald eagles. Remember that this inadequate “barrier” was approved by the NC Division of State Parks, the Superintendent of the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The only way to protect Big Pine Nest is to CLOSE THE GATE to this area. Please, continue to spread the news about this problem. Please, every chance you get, contact every person who has the fate of the Big Pine Nest in their hands – contact list at the end of this post. BTW, the fact that the woman was inside the “barrier” was there is not a failure on the part of the Rangers at the park. The Rangers’ duties, first and foremost, and rightly so, are to take care of the human visitors to the park and that is a full-time task. My heart is so very grateful to all of you who are pitching in through every way each of you can. Thank you from the parent Bald Eagles of the Big Pine Nest.
Who to Contact:

Superintendent Shederick Mole
919-362-0586 ext.231
email shederick.mole@ncparks.gov

Kathy Capps
Deputy Director of Operations
North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
Kathy.Capps@ncparks.gov
Office 919.707.9339

John Hammond, US Fish and Wildlife Service
(the US FWS has the legal jurisdiction over this matter)
(919) 856-4520
john_hammond@fws.gov

By Bald Eagle First Nest update

Jordan Lake. Mom Kate has not yet laid her eggs. This morning I listened to the two of them chattering for 2 hours in the trees, but I could not see them. Then out of the trees burst Petruchio and right behind was Kate. They dashed across the Cove and disappeared. I will be checking again tomorrow.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest Report: H&G nest

This morning I watched Mama Godiva fly into the upper reaches of a dead tree and snatch a branch out to use to repair her nest. It was a rather pointy and many branched section that she had. But she did manage to get it into the nest. I’ve often wondered when I watch the bald eagles do this, as in the first picture, how the eagle don’t get all tangled up in all the other branches around them. But they make it in and they make it out and they make it to the nest! Go mama Godiva go.

By Bald Eagle Nest Report: Captain’s Nest

Jordan Lake: Captain Doug and I had just checked the nest and there wasn’t anybody at home. When all of a sudden high through the trees came Captain Dad. He was in a big hurry and he was headed upstairs, so to speak. As you can see he caught up with his lady. That’s Captain Mom in the lead in the photos of the pair in flight. They went up in the air, circling higher and higher and higher and finally got totally out of our sight. Eagles like doing that kind of flying! Especially together as a pair.

By Do I Really Look Odd?

Jordan Lake: Sometimes I admit that I wish I could read a Bald Eagle‘s mind. For instance, this two-year-old bald eagle, this morning, looked at me as if I were some how or other an odd object on the shoreline. I am certain this youngster has seen humans before! But, I did wonder what she was thinking about…