Jordan Lake. First Nest. An immature bald eagle tried to invade First Nest in hopes of stealing the eggs. Dad Bard was the one incubating the eggs. The youngster – about a three-year-old – came barreling in straight at the nest and realized it had made an error. A very very fast encounter – all of about 30 seconds! Everybody was fine … including the youngster who I saw pop out on the other side of the tree line and go barreling up the lake. Whew!
bald eagle
TagQuarterly Bald Eagle Count
This morning was the Quarterly Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Count. My group counted 4 bald eagles. The count started at 7 AM. Sunrise was at 7:24AM … I took this photo 15 minutes later. The “real feel temperature” was 27°F. Being in good company, we all chuckled, enjoyed the crispness of the air and the sparkle of the frost and were blessed to see those four eagles. It will be sometime before I know what the total count all over the lake works out to be. Given the flood conditions at a lot of the count sites some people were having trouble getting down to their normal viewing positions. Have a very blessed day and stay warm!

Lake Levels!
Water Levels at Jordan Lake. This morning at 9:00AM the lake was at 225.51 ft … that is 9.51 ft above the normal pool of 216 ft. As the level goes up the water floods the shore line further and further inland. This flooding is keeping me and other Army Corps bald eagle monitors from checking on nests. Sigh. I made the video from my truck at one of several boat ramps that I checked at the lake yesterday. BTW I believe all of the lake’s boat ramps are currently inaccessible for launching boats.
Dad Bard Fidgets
First Nest. Mom Kate had flown in to take her turn in incubating the eggs. Dad Bard had been fidgeting – even while he was incubating – with a stick. So when Mom Kate came in he decided to do something about that stick. It becomes rather comical. Ah the foibles of being parents!
Music is Excusez-moi by Roo Walker.
Egg(S)! Incubation
First Nest. Egg(s)! Incubation! Kate has laid her egg or eggs. She and Bard are sharing the incubation. Hatching will take 30-35 days. Great way to start the new year!
Bard is Impatient
First Nest. As of Thursday afternoon mom Kate had not yet laid eggs. Captain Doug and I were out checking on the nests. We found Bard at First Nest being quite put out. He looked left, he looked right, he looked high and was wondering where the heck was mom Kate. Most likely she was out fishing for her own supper. I’ll be back out the next day or two and hoping to find one or the other of the parents in incubation. #FirstNest #DocEllensJourney



