Jordan Lake, Bald Eagle Nest report: H&G NestOne of the chicks at the nest tried hard to impress Dad Hershey. Dad dutifully watched the chick bounce, but quickly went back to doing other nest-keeping chores. The chick is not yet properly branching, when it steps up on the branch to the left of the nest. Soon though, it will be much higher above the nest in proper branching mode.
bald eagle nest
TagJordan Lake, Bald Eagle Nest report: H&G Nest
Looking left to right: Mom Godiva getting a piece of fish ready to feed to her rapidly growing chicks, a chick right against the main trunk of the tree and then the second chick to the right of the main trunk.
The whole family! That is Dad Hershey perched way to the left, then in the nest it is Mom Godiva, a chick trying to push in and get a bite of food and then the other chick still to the right of the trunk. Great getting to see the whole family all at once. And, it is easy to see in this photo how light brown Dad is … that is how he got his name … after the chocolate bar.
Help Protect the Bald Eagles!
Help Protect the Bald Eagles at Jordan Lake! We all want to see the bald eagles and perhaps get a photograph. Here is how to see the eagles and not bother them. This time of the year it is breeding season for our bald eagles. It is up to us to protect the parents and their families. The MOST important rule is this: stay at least 660 feet from a nest – that is the length of 2 football fields. If there are ANY signs of agitation by the parents, even if you are far away, please simply leave the area. Do you know that bald eagles are very sensitive to human intrusion and will get so upset that they will abandon their nest and its eggs or chicks! Yes, the parents will do this. So, if you find yourself near a nest, please leave and let the parents have the peace and quiet they need in order to take care of their families. If the eagle isn’t near a nest, then you can approach within 330ft – that is 1 football field away. We would also ask that if you see a disturbance at a bald eagle nest, please call the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area office at (919) 362-0586. Help us keep these distance rules and you are helping the bald eagles take care of their families and giving us generations of sightings!
Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle Ranger Nest has Egg(s)!
Momma Ranger laid eggs between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
Mom Ranger incubating just before sunrise Sunday morning.
Dad Ranger arrives to take his turn at incubation
Mom Ranger leaves for some rest after her egg-laying work
Dad Ranger sitting on the eggs
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: 10 photos
H&G Nest
There were severe storms being forecast and the wind had the chicks full of themselves.
Dad Hershey watched as one chick wing wapped.
Then the second chick came down the branch were it was sitting on the left of the nest.
It too got into the practice work of strengthening muscles.
These chicks are working hard toward fledging soon!!!
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nests post Hurricane Florence, 3 photos 10/09/2018
All 3 of the Eagle Nests we have been monitoring together are mostly intact.
There is some damage to 2 of the nests. Please see my notes on each nest as to my best guess for future use.
We will know by the beginning of December if the parents decide to repair the nests.
Now to hope that Hurricane Michael doesn’t cause more damage.
First Nest – home of Kate and Petruchio
The surrounding trees and the nest tree appear to have lost some small branches.
I cannot see any major damage to the nest and its tree.
Remember, however, that I can only see one side – that is always true.
H&G Nest – home of Hershey and Godiva
Their nest, its tree and surrounding trees seem to be just as they were before the storm.
Ranger Nest – home of Mom and Dad Ranger
This nest and its tree had the most damage.
There had been a long branch to the left of the nest; it had fallen before the hurricane.
Some of the left edge of the nest appears to have been disrupted.
Some of the smaller branches of the nest tree have also dropped.
There will need to be a lot of repair by the parents and I will be watching closely starting in December to see if the nest will be reused.
