bald eagle

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By Eagle Family Report

As is my wont after the eagle fledglings get out and about,
I stop by the Jordan Lake Eagle nest occasionally to check on the nest.
I always hope to catch a glimpse of the parents or maybe the fledglings.
On September 19, having just snapped a photo of the empty nest for my files, I heard a familiar eagle scream.
Kate came barreling across the cove heading straight for the nest.
She piled into the nest still screaming. I glimpsed a fledgling on a perch across the cove.
The immature eagle was quiet and watching the parent bird have a fit.
As quickly as Kate got to the nest, she bounced out again, flew across the cove, past the fledgling and was gone.
I don’t know what started the ruckus, but it sure was great seeing Kate and one of the fledglings.

Kate leaving nest

By weather stirred eagles…
I watched the juvenile eagle soaring along just below the ridge of trees.
Suddenly an adult eagle took exception to the intruder and a brief skirmish ensued.
The adult trounced the juvie.
Wish I had been close enough for the photos to be sharper,
but thought y’all might like to see the encounter anyway.
The storms of the past few days have made for an influx of birds I don’t know
and that makes life very interesting!

adult eagle chasing juvie 1

adult eagle chasing juvie

adult eagle chasing juvie 2

adult eagle chasing juvie 4

adult eagle chasing juvie 3

By through the trees

I heard the angry scream of an eagle behind me.
Turning around I missed the shot of a two or 3 year old eagle speeding through the trees.
What I did get was this 4 year old eagle.
Mad, angry, and in pursuit of the immature eagle that had preceded it past my line of sight.
I have no idea of why the chase but it sure set my heart racing.

4 yo eagle thru trees

By eagle fledgling prize

I was out with the Army Corps of Engineers during their part of the annual hydrilla survey.
Hydrilla is a nasty invasive plant in lakes and waterways.
Around the bend came a fledgling eaglet.
He was very concentrated on his prize – a piece of pine bough.
The fledglings of eagles and ospreys both have a habit of doing this.
I am not sure why the urge to pick up and carry – maybe practice for catching fish, maybe for future nest building.
Or, just sheer curiosity on the young one’s part.
When he suddenly saw the boat, the startled eaglet dropped the branch and disappeared over the tree line.

fledlging w pine

By eagle learning experience
There are 2 new eagle photo galleries at the Jordan Lake State Park Visitor Center,
280 State Park Road, Apex, NC 27523.
A great way to learn how to understand what you are seeing when out and about at the lake.
One of the photo series follows the bald eagle from the nest, to fledging and up to and beyond adulthood.
The second series shows a bald eagle catching a fish.
Stop by and sharpen your eye so that you too can enjoy seeing these majestic birds at Jordan Lake.
Godiva head shot

By Godiva

The sheer bulk of Godiva makes the strength showing in her wings all the more impressive.
Like all female bald eagles, Godiva is large, arrogant and owner of her share of the lake.

Godiva