bald eagles of Jordan Lake

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By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle nest report: First nest, 4 photos 05-02-2019
First Nest
 
Both of the chicks have fledged!
 
Kate is not too impressed with Cacao’s semi controlled crash landing.
 
 
While Cacao is trying to get the landing finished, Caramel comes zipping by.
 
 
Kate watches as Caramel makes a landing much further down the tree.
 
 
Just like any offspring, Cacao imitates mom even though Kate is still not impressed!

By Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle Fledgling 04-30-2019
Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle Fledgling at First Nest
Caramel has fledged. I don’t know the exact date – the chicks were due to fledge starting April 27.
Dad Petruchio brought a fish to the nest and I could hear the young ones calling.
I don’t know yet if Cacao has also fledged. The lake is still too deep for me to get a decent shot of the nest.
And the sun was in the wrong place for a detailed look at the new flier.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 2 photos, 04-11-2019
First Nest
 
The lake level was so high that I could not see the nest.
The sky was sunny, but I was not because I wanted to see the chicks branching.
I had turned around to go back to my truck when a shadow blew past me.
Not a sound had been made in the cove. Yet, here was Kate at a high speed heading for the nest.
She didn’t have a fish.  She did look angry.
Into the branches around the nest Kate disappeared.
No sounds. I waited another 30 minutes then had to leave, wondering why the dash to the nest.
 
 

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 4 photos, 04-10-2019
 
First Nest
 
The pine pollen has not abated and the lake level has risen.
Both situations make watching the nests a difficult task.
 
Oh what a determined face as Caramel contemplates maybe making a try for the other side of the nest.
 
Uh, maybe I ought to think some more about heading across the nest.
 
 
I wonder if that human down there has noticed me.
 
As if you haven’t seen enough pollen this week … this is what the lake looked like this morning!
 

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 4 photos, 04-09-2019
Drat!!! Pollen!!! I found Caramel on a branch above the rim of the nest.
This activity is called branching and will lead to jumps and flights to higher limbs directly above the nest.
The branching can go on for up to about 2 weeks or last 2 days; depends on how precocious the chick is.
The next step is flight from the safety of the nest: fledgling.
I just wish the pollen hadn’t obscured the first photo.  Sigh.
 
Caramel is standing of a branch that is unseen.  He seems a little startled that he is above the nest.
 
 
Okay.  Now to get back to the safety of the nest. Jump and flap.
 
 
Look at me! I have landed!  I am safe.
 
 
Wow!  I really did it.  Branched a whole two feet or so from branch to the nest.  Oh, wow!