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A late Friday Funny...sent to us by a supporter. "Nothing going on here...just move along please!"
On July 17, after having read in the Madison Park blog that an immature bald eagle had electrocuted itself just a few hundred yards from the Broadmoor golf course (Seattle) nest site that I had been monitoring, I made my way over to the nest to see if it was one of those youngsters. I was braced for the worst, but was greeted by the trio waiting for breakfast at 6:00am. They were all present and getting hungrier by the minute. Neither parent was around, so I knew that a delivery was on the way. I just had to be patient. Sure enough about an hour later, one of the parents delivered a trout of about 14 ounces. This would barely feed one of the eaglets, and as you watch them rush the parent, they display the typical bullying, badgering behavior which they rely on for as long as possible before they have to depend on their own hunting skills. I figured the other parent would be delivering something to the other youngsters; as you can see the one perched above the parent is still begging for food as it makes its way down towards the parent who's trying to have a rest. Teenagers are all the same, in any species! As you see in the opening minutes, they can be a frisky bunch indeed! Help us keep these videos coming by donating at: www.usaref.org
It has been 20 days since I last visited the Broadmoor Golf Course bald eagles' nest in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle. I did not know what I would find, but as you will see, I was not disappointed! The young trio is still very visible. There is a distinct hierarchy spread vertically up the nesting tree. Closest to the nest is the youngest and least confidant of our branchers. On top of the tree, quite literally, is the oldest and most confidant eagle. Unfortunately, I missed that one taking a flight out of the tree and out over Lake Washington before coming back, although I was able to capture the return landing. The landing was coordinated and not clumsy, so this youngster has been flying out and practicing for some time. I'm doubtful the youngster standing closest to the nest has taken its first flight out. The middle bird of the trio is quite adept at moving through the branches, and if it has not yet taken a flight away from the nesting tree, then I might get lucky and capture that first flight over the next week. The best viewing location is revealed at the end of the video. See you there. Early morning and later afternoon times are best. You will need binocs or a scope. I am shooting with a 1365mm zoom lens on a Canon. Stay tuned.
On the last day of June in the late afternoon, a congress of visitors met a parliament of owls at Bear Creek Lake Park. Just over 100 guests came to enjoy our Owl Summit and learn about these four secretive and mysterious denizens of the night: a great-horned owl, barn owl, screech owl, and a short-eared owl. However, during the course of the program, we discovered two young girls had brought their own owls to meet ours! Enjoy!!
For the second year in a row, the golden eagle pair in Highlands Ranch has managed to successfully fledge TWO young! We've been quietly following them for a few months now, and the pair began incubating almost two weeks earlier than last year. On June 22, Anne went out with "cousin" Libby Price, Backcountry volunteer extraordinaire who has documented the eagles' nesting efforts for over five years now. Our friends at the HRCA Backcountry Wilderness Area have done a marvelous job keeping the trails closed and educating the residents about the eagles. Thanks to Libby Price for the photos and to Lead Biologist Mark Giebel!
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