Post by baja252 on Mar 12, 2014 13:24:44 GMT -6
Let’s start off with a photo of the E’s nest taken from the lake, note the size compared to the nest from last year. People keep saying how small the nest is; well it’s not that small. It’s kind of oval shaped between the two major limbs on the tree and on the cams you see it from the narrow side. From other directions it looks bigger.
While I’m talking about the E’s nest let me add it’s really not the “old nest” like people call it, it’s a new nest the E’s built this year. Two years ago they had a nest in the same tree, the three juvies from that year destroyed it. (If you look back in the forum you can find photos of that nest.) The year before the E’s had two nests in that same tree. I also wish people wouldn’t be upset that the E’s built a new nest this year, it’s just what eagles do. Next year they may build another one. Also keep in mind they don’t migrate like the eagles that live up north, so they have more off season time to fill with nest building. I know you can't see the eggs, but we will have great views of the juvies this spring. I can't wait until their heads pop up for the first time.
The nest is also deep; at times you can’t even see an E sitting in the nest with the naked eye. But zoom in and you can see they are there and they are watching your every move.
This ugly guy was running around below the nest, that’s the nest tree in the upper left corner. I’d love to see (photograph) Stein running him off, but no luck. Besides he looks like he’s already been in a fight.
Last week Jlr and I went around the lake to see some other eagle nests. At this nest an adult is sitting on eggs. We have seen shift changes, egg rolls and we think the eggs will hatch around the same time the E’s eggs will hatch. Meet Fred and Ginger. We think this is Ginger on the nest.
This next nest is very far off the road, so we can’t get very close to it. We believe they have eggs, because we saw shift changes and there is always one sitting in the nest. We’re calling this pair Homer and Marge. One of them flew to where a couple of hawks were sitting. He didn’t chase them off, it was more just to let them know whose area they were in. Look close and you can see the second eagle.
This nest is so far away we’re not sure what it is. We didn’t see any eagles, but the construction does look like an eagle’s nest. Jlr’s going to keep an eye on it to see if she can spot any eagles.
We saw what we believe is another eagle nest and it is huge, so it’s obvious to us what it is. But we can only see it for a split second between two hills while we are driving down a road that we can’t stop on. There isn’t even a place to pull over to walk back and take photos of it. We hiked in from the other side of the hill, but ran into a “No Trespassing” fence and had to stop.
Now this is a nest! It must be several years old and the eagles just keep adding to it. An eagle is sitting on eggs here also; again seeing shift changes and sitting eagles confirms it for us. It is so wooded when the leaves come out you won’t even see it. I don’t see how the juvies will get back to it after they fledge. It will be interesting to watch this one.
A few days later I checked it out by boat.
We’re calling this pair Ralph and Alice. Yesterday it was 80 degrees so I watched the nest for awhile in the boat. After a shift change the larger eagle (Alice) flew around in circles for awhile. Notice in both photos she has a dark spot on her tail. It could be dirt of something that will come off, but if it stays it will be easy to tell who’s who in the future.
** UPDATE **
I drove by the nest today. Both parents were on it and they have a eaglet! Looks more like a juvie to me, must have hatched a while ago. I also get the feeling there is more than one, even though I only saw one.
That makes four nests with eggs we saw in one afternoon (counting the E’s) and two “maybe” nests we saw. My unscientific opinion is more and more eagles are making their home at the lake. Thanks to Jlr for spotting most of these nests, it takes hours of looking to find them. If you are from the lake area and know of a nest in the area please let us know where it is.
While I’m talking about the E’s nest let me add it’s really not the “old nest” like people call it, it’s a new nest the E’s built this year. Two years ago they had a nest in the same tree, the three juvies from that year destroyed it. (If you look back in the forum you can find photos of that nest.) The year before the E’s had two nests in that same tree. I also wish people wouldn’t be upset that the E’s built a new nest this year, it’s just what eagles do. Next year they may build another one. Also keep in mind they don’t migrate like the eagles that live up north, so they have more off season time to fill with nest building. I know you can't see the eggs, but we will have great views of the juvies this spring. I can't wait until their heads pop up for the first time.
The nest is also deep; at times you can’t even see an E sitting in the nest with the naked eye. But zoom in and you can see they are there and they are watching your every move.
This ugly guy was running around below the nest, that’s the nest tree in the upper left corner. I’d love to see (photograph) Stein running him off, but no luck. Besides he looks like he’s already been in a fight.
Last week Jlr and I went around the lake to see some other eagle nests. At this nest an adult is sitting on eggs. We have seen shift changes, egg rolls and we think the eggs will hatch around the same time the E’s eggs will hatch. Meet Fred and Ginger. We think this is Ginger on the nest.
This next nest is very far off the road, so we can’t get very close to it. We believe they have eggs, because we saw shift changes and there is always one sitting in the nest. We’re calling this pair Homer and Marge. One of them flew to where a couple of hawks were sitting. He didn’t chase them off, it was more just to let them know whose area they were in. Look close and you can see the second eagle.
This nest is so far away we’re not sure what it is. We didn’t see any eagles, but the construction does look like an eagle’s nest. Jlr’s going to keep an eye on it to see if she can spot any eagles.
We saw what we believe is another eagle nest and it is huge, so it’s obvious to us what it is. But we can only see it for a split second between two hills while we are driving down a road that we can’t stop on. There isn’t even a place to pull over to walk back and take photos of it. We hiked in from the other side of the hill, but ran into a “No Trespassing” fence and had to stop.
Now this is a nest! It must be several years old and the eagles just keep adding to it. An eagle is sitting on eggs here also; again seeing shift changes and sitting eagles confirms it for us. It is so wooded when the leaves come out you won’t even see it. I don’t see how the juvies will get back to it after they fledge. It will be interesting to watch this one.
A few days later I checked it out by boat.
We’re calling this pair Ralph and Alice. Yesterday it was 80 degrees so I watched the nest for awhile in the boat. After a shift change the larger eagle (Alice) flew around in circles for awhile. Notice in both photos she has a dark spot on her tail. It could be dirt of something that will come off, but if it stays it will be easy to tell who’s who in the future.
** UPDATE **
I drove by the nest today. Both parents were on it and they have a eaglet! Looks more like a juvie to me, must have hatched a while ago. I also get the feeling there is more than one, even though I only saw one.
That makes four nests with eggs we saw in one afternoon (counting the E’s) and two “maybe” nests we saw. My unscientific opinion is more and more eagles are making their home at the lake. Thanks to Jlr for spotting most of these nests, it takes hours of looking to find them. If you are from the lake area and know of a nest in the area please let us know where it is.