Sometimes, it takes a “not-seeing” moment for me to realize in the next blink, that I am “seeing” something. For instance, that is Kate standing in her nest. In the 1st photo, look between Kate’s left shoulder and the tree branch and note the empty space there. In the second photo, a small darkness has appeared in that same gap. In the 3rd photo the darkness has become one of her chicks! In the 4th photo, the chick has disappeared again. Neat sequence of Kate’s approximately 5-6 week old chick peeking past her shoulder.
I found Dad Hershey in the nest, enjoying the golden hour of sunrise. Eventually Mom Godiva flew in and landed on one of their sentinel trees. I didn’t see the chick(s); they have to get a wee bit older and bigger before they will be visible. It sure was great to be able to get out and about on the lake again after all the high water!
Jordan Lake: Big Pine bald eagle nest. My first glimpse this breeding season of BALD EAGLE CHICKS! Big Pine nest is one of our new nests, established this year. Mom’s tail is to the left in the nest and you can see a sliver of her white head feathers against the big upright limb at the center of the nest rim. The TWO chicks are to the right of the limb that is hiding part of mom. One chick is right against the upright limb and one chick is much easier to see with its fuzzy light grey head just above the small slanted limb. The chicks are probably 2-3 weeks old. Yay! Chicks!!
First Nest: Dad Petruchio came dashing in from across the lake. He rocked hard as he landed and looked down into the nest. Didn’t take Mom Kate but a moment to jump up off the chicks (I haven’t seen them yet) and she headed out for some time on her own. Dad jumped down into the nest to take over the brooding duty as I watched Mom head out.
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: Time is of the essence when it is cold and the parent eagles need to trade places on the eggs. Eggs left uncovered in the cold winter air will die if left uncovered for more than 2 minutes. Mom Kate was on the egg(s) when I arrived. 2 hours later she started calling and Dad Petruchio arrived. Kate jumped up on the branch next to Petruchio (she is closest to the trunk). They glanced down at their eggs. Dad Petruchio jumped down into the nest and settled onto the eggs and Mom Kate left for some flight time. The whole exchange took 38 seconds. This is a critical time for the eggs and then for chicks up to 2 weeks of age because any disturbance by humans can cause the parents to leave the eggs or chicks exposed too long and the disturbance could quickly become fatal to the new family.
doc ellen's journey 