raptor

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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!
 

By Jordan Lake Ospreys: Shelter Osprey Nest 04-06-2019
Shelter Osprey Nest
 
In most raptors, the female bird is larger than the male.
This is easy to see in the ospreys and bald eagles at Jordan Lake.
You can certainly see the size difference in the parents of the Shelter Nest.
 Osprey Mom, heading to the left, is much bigger than Osprey Dad who is looking to the right.
Sometimes this size difference makes the female ospreys and bald eagles 25 – 30% bigger than the males.
This trait is known as gender dimorphism.
_ARK8902 Ebenezer 06-04-19 10-57-08 2 osprey dimorphic

By Jordan Lake Ospreys: Shelter Nest, 4 photos, 04-05-2019
The Shelter Ospreys are Busy!
 
We humans often have to stop construction on our homes when it rains.
 
Osprey Dad isn’t letting a shower slow him down as he brings nest lining home.
 
 
On the other hand, um talon, maybe he is a little put out with the rain.
 
 
Oh, well, he has settled in, waiting for Osprey Mom to arrive.