bald eagles of Jordan Lake

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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. Still no eggs. Gate is open. The photo is a four-year-old bald eagle. It is one of a couple of juvenile eagles that have been testing Loblolly and Pitch’s territorial limits at their nesting site. This is a normal behavior for immature bald eagles. These youngsters will quite literally raid a nest of eggs or chicks if they get a chance. Loblolly and Pitch are having to defend their territory against these intruders and also cope with visitors in the parking lot.

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