bald eagle parent

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By Shelter 8 Update

Jordan Lake. We have not seen Dad Pitch or Mom Loblolly in their nest for a week. No eggs in the nest. Have not had a recent closeup of Pitch to know how his injury is doing. All of this means that this breeding season for this pair of bald eagles has ended without any chicks. I honestly do not know why there were no eggs laid: some possibilities could’ve been marauding immature eagles or the injury to Dad Pitch or interference caused by visitors or a combination of those or other factors. If I see Dad Pitch again close enough to know how he is doing I will definitely let you know. In the meantime we can all hold onto our thoughts, prayers and meditations for the next breeding season starting in December. Thank you again for all your love, concern and vast amounts of energy, in so many ways, in your efforts to provide Loblolly and Pitch the best of protection by trying to get the gate to shelter eight closed. Peace and grace, Doc Ellen

By Dad Pitch has a Foot Injury

Jordan Lake. Shelter 8 nest. Dad Pitch has an injured left foot; it is very swollen. I don’t know how it was injured. There are several possibilities for the damage – following are thoughts from my veterinary point of view but, I stress, are not proven data in this case and are not in any particular sequence of importance: 1) the foot was caught in fishing line and that has stopped circulation within the foot 2) Pitch damaged the foot in a fight with a marauding immature bald eagle 3) Pitch was startled by visitors and in turning away to leave the area caught his foot in the fork of a branch and twisted the foot. Any of these things could have happened separately or together as part of an accident. This injury may be part of the reason why there are still no eggs at Shelter 8.

Dad Pitch

By First Bald Eagle Chick!

Jordan Lake. Oh my! A bald eagle CHICK! This is the first chick I have seen this season. The 4-5 week old chick is located at the Mystery Nest. For a long time we were not sure if this new nest was going to be occupied. To locate the chick: go to the right from mom eagle until you run into the big branch sticking out at you, then look for the black beak of the chick above the nest brim. I think there may be a second chick just to the right of that big branch.

Bald Eagle Mom and Chick

By Shelter 8 Update

Jordan Lake. Gate to 8 is still open. There are still no eggs. The photo is of Loblolly in the upper right and Pitch in the lower left. They were enjoying a good turn together in the bright sky.

Loblolly and Pitch

By Captain’s Nest update

Jordan Lake. While Captain Doug and I were out checking various nests we managed to watch the mom bald eagle from Captain’s Nest do a spectacular launch. In the nest photo that is Dad incubating. As you can see he looks small in the nest because all nests are constructed to fit the girth of the much larger bald eagle hen.

Captain’s Nest Mom
Captain’s Nest Dad Incubating