Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: Remember the ruckus yesterday when the 3-year-old bald eagle knocked the 2-year-old eagle off the preferred branch? The 3-year-old got to spend 27 minutes on the favored branch. Then an adult bald eagle decided the branch was now its sole perch. Another tumble in the chilly wind!
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: the weather was changing this morning at the riprap, getting grayer, cloudier and wind was starting to pickup. All factors that stir eagles into fishing and fighting. Eagles get a charge out of knocking each other off of a branch. The two-year-old on the left was happily minding his own business when a 3-year-old decided it wanted that particular perch. Lots of screaming and one tumbling two-year-old but no one was harmed. Well, maybe the two-year-old’s arrogance factor was paled a little bit … for only a moment, I am sure!
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: Sometimes a black and white photo can bring startling emphasis to a subject. In this case, an adult female bald eagle.
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