Over the past decade, biologists and naturalists alike have observed an increase in the number of incidents of bald eagles involving agressive behavior during the nesting season. The Service's Office of Law Enforcement and Ecological Services Chesapeake Bay Field Office have received numerous eye-witness accounts of eagles dropping from the sky and succum injury due to fierce combat. During the 2007 calender year, the number of injured eagles received at the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research Center had significantly increased (possibly trippled) in the number of eagles requiring treatment.So recovery is a double edged sword--we've got the numbers back up, but due to human development (in some areas), the amount of habitat has decreased, causing competition for the best nesting areas, and sometimes that competition is violent.
I really do not have a definitive answer to the mate-stealing behavior noted in the eagle pairs in Norfolk and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. I do, however, believe that the dramatic increase in the number of eagle pairs in the Chesapeake Bay has resulted in eagles fighting for "choice" habitat near the optimal feeding areas.
At the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland (northern Bay) nesting eagles are clustered closer together due to undisturbed forested shoreline habitat and a high number of fresh-water rivers creating a paradise for eagles. Currently, there are 44-48 nesting pairs established on the 72,000 acre installation. There have been several accounts of territorial fighting between eagles at the installation too, and likely, it will become more common as the Chesapeake Bay eagle population reaches it's natural carrying capacity.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Eagles and Habitat
Hi folks. I asked one of the Fish and Wildlife Service's foremost bald eagle experts for his thoughts on what is going on at the Norfolk Nest and other places around the region.
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4/25/24 both/resident crows
605 an Eagle to the nest. I believe it's scout that for sure. 609 he left. 646 an Eagle lands on the lamp. I'd believe this is Bel...
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11/4 526 PM visit a short one min video 617am Bella arrives first Trills from the attic before landing Then Shep show Lots of sti... -
Fresh thread.
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Weekend thread, a little late...
91 comments:
Very interesting, thanks Steven.
Glad somebody is awake, Megan.
sad, but true, thanks Steven. Jill been off and on panda napping..thanks for heads up.
No problem Mits. Thought I was talking to myself on the other thread. I could use a panda nap about now but too late in the day for that.
Thank you Steven for replying to the email. I like where you put the answer that way everyone gets to know the answer. Thank you again for checking it out.
Hi Megan and Mits ( :
Thanks Steven for the new thread and the information... Sorry to hear that we may see more of this behavior though.
Mits, sorry your sisters had to go home but I know it must have been wonderful to have them there with you. Long recuperations sometimes get boring, but hang in there - thankfully you have lots to watch on line these next 4 to 6 weeks.
How surprised am I?!!! I was looking for comment 200 and not a new thread!
The information Steve has given us really helps us understand some of the incidents we have witnessed. It is hard to realize that once the eagle was under-populated and now the eagle is over-populated - but mainly due to man taking over all the land.
Hi Iris and Jo ( :
Maybe if this becomes a "great" problem. They will make artifical nest in populated areas.
Let's see I can't remember who all stopped by during Open House at NCTC. Those that were making nest. I remember Vicky was one. She'll come in handy to make artifical nest for eagles.
Nest Visit
In picking a date for the next visit, we need to consider that it can't be too early - Wanda would be gone and Eaglets wouldn't be little bobble heads yet. It can't be too late - Robyn will have moved and the eaglets may have fledged.
I think we want a bobble head - wing flapping day to visit! Similar to where the Tesoro eaglets are now.
It would have to be a Road Side Visit. No one would be allowed during this time up at the barn.
Perhaps we could get Steve to bring out the scope like the very 1st visit to the nest - however; I know the visit would be on a Saturday. IT WILL HAPPEN
Iris - when in the month of May do
you come home.
If we can't accommodate everyone at one time - we'll just have to make more then 1 visit!
JILL What's the weather over there - any precipitation? Our eagle looks like she is getting something on her back....
So, it's population pressures and competition for nesting places...
Could get worse yet, as they are saying..
I just noticed that Belle is getting dusted with the snow again now.
For the second time today, I was peering at the Panda screen trying to find ZZ, when this strange two-legged critter with the overalls and gloves walks into camera view.
[:~)]
Jim
Jo here it is freezing on the porch and the road way.
Sorry about the deletion. I had a double post.
[:~)]
Jim
Jim was you awake or sleeping (dreaming) when you seen that hee hee kidding here
From the article about the fire:
"Roberts bought another old building, the U.S. Hotel, which was renovated to house a restaurant, which is operated by Roberts’ son, Dan Aufdem-Brinke.
He formerly owned Asaro's Restaurant at 4 N. Main St., but that restaurant was destroyed by a fire on Jan. 19, 2007. "
How many fires are there on Main Street?? I feel so bad for the town, there just aren't many old buildings left these days, and especially one as old as the former Eagle Hotel.
I hope there weren't any historical document losses at the Town Hall and Library...as someone who loves to research genealogy, I know how important those documents can be!
Off for my own 'panda nap' now...talk to everyone again soon I hope :)
p.s. Cold, grey, rainy all day here in PHOENIX :(
you got that right, Iris, just one problem now, can't seem to sit that long at the computer right now, but each day should be stronger.
egg turning
Jo, we get back fairly early - I think we have dental appointments on the 5th of May.
Glo and I helped build a nest at open house too. I'm sure others did as well.
I am thinking of the Finland Osprey nest - was it or was it not an artificial woven nest? It always looked like it..........
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 10 PM EST this evening...
Tonight
Cloudy. Freezing rain with patchy freezing drizzle this evening. Areas of fog. Ice accumulation of less than one tenth of an inch. Chance of snow showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
Saturday
Cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
SHEPERDSTOWN FORCAST FOR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
Iris - I remember Vicky said something about maybe a Spring Visit this year.
I guess we best get these eggs hatched first!
Sounds like a really good idea to get the eggs hatched first before we make too many plans...~:)
I agree! Subject closed until further notice! lol
OUR EAGLE STILL AWAKE AND LOOKING AROUND.
JO-I just came in from dinner. Nothing coming down right now. We stood outside and talked before the boys took off and my coat is dry.
Bird Girl-How many fires on Main Stree that involve Nora Roberts and her family, was my question. One report said they had removed documents from city hall as well as computers but had returned them after everything was put out. Don't know about the library. There seem to be conflicting reports. Some say no damage, some say smoke, some say fire. I haven't check for updates since I came back from dinner.
We will have Megan take a ride up the road & survey Main Street for a first hand report!
Tomorrow morning that is lol
Jill I don't have any precip here in the valley either - I just was wondering why at times our eagle is glistening!
Does anyone know the poster by the name of FOX? If not do not open that post or go to the related blog.
If you know this poster, please let me know, if not please let Steve know.
There is a nice history of the Boone Hotel and some other building in Boonsbore on www.herald-mail.com. I found it quite interesting.
IRIS, never heard of "it", so am not opening "it"
DO NOT OPEN POSTED
MESSAGE FROM FOX
And YES Steve needs to know aout our newest Spammer as well.
I will email Steve who can delete from our blog
However, I need Paula to notify
Blogger....
Thanks for being so alert!!
Just sat down to catch up on BLOG from supper. Reading from Bottom up which as Paula suggested is an excellent idea especially with our spam stuff startign to happen. How sad. Geesh . I am so very glad the weather did not turn out to be as ad as forcasted. I do see some snow building up on our eagle friend but forecast doesn't sound too bad.
I headed to it, then noticed the bad English and stopped. At least we are learning. Can anyone besides Paula report the issue, in case she is unavailable when we have an issue? If this is going to be happening, it would be nice if there were more than one person authorized.
I guess Steven is going to have to set the blog so membership has to be approved. That is sad. Why do people have to do such things. We aren't bothering anybody, just minding our own business and watching nature. Fox is probably Jon back under a different name.
I thought the same thing Jill. It should get a life!
West End eagles just did the "dance" I still have not seen Wray this year... Hope she is still around. This was Superman and Diane/a
it would get old in a hurry to have to read and approve 300 to 400
messages every day...What a job!
Not messages Iris, just those new people joining the blog.
I checked on a way to report them but I can't find it. Blogger is not all that customer friendly in it's help section.
Whew~Jill, that's a relief, that would not be so bad just checking on new people signing in...also if there was a delay until they were authenticated that would not be so bad. If posts were delayed, that could be a mess!
no Iris, we have the blogger cop to delay our posts:)
Jill I think that "membership approval" that you're thinking about is different then "Comment approval" to which Iris is referring. This blog couldn't conduct it daily business of conversation in real time mode if we had Comment Approval. There really isn't anyway to approve membership when people can just sign in - at least we got rid of Anonymous last year!!!
Deb - I think I have found it but
I'm not certain what to do with it!!
I prefer to wait until Paula gets on
I have sent her an email for help
and yes one or two of us needs to know how to contact google .....
If anyone opens FOX remark it's their computer and not our system that will be affected
I killed the Fox. I could turn on word verification, which could reduce the spam.
Bird Girl, it's a weird coincidence that there were now 2 fires in downtown Boonsboro right across the street from each other 1year apart. And yes, members of the same family owned these buildings. Nora Roberts owns several buildings downtown,they had rcently bought the building that burned today. They are saying the construction workers in the building this morning accidently started the fire. It destroyed 3 buildings, the library and the town hall suffered smoke damage mostly.
Booyah!!!!!STEVEN!!!!!!
EAGLE AT tWO hARBORS
Now we can call Steve a Fox Hunter.
Steven
Like Norma always says
WE LOVE YOU!!!
Thank you for taking care of us
WHOO HOO!!! THE FOX IS DEAD!
The eagle at Two Harbors is sitting on an egg
I thought I saw an egg, but thought I was seeing things
our eagle has finally tucked her head in her feathers....off to watch Amnesia
Sent email thanking Steven for taking care of the blog.... I did ask him about "word verification" .
Thanks for the news GLO
They should be good for another one!
The administrator can turn the blog to private so that he has to approve anyboyd joining the blog. It wouldn't have any affect on us after he approved each of us but it would deter anybody trying to join for malicious reasons.
Thanks Steven for taking care of the fox.
The best thing to do is never click on a link unless you know the poster and they have posted here before. Most of the regulars know who has been here before and if they haven't then we need to ask them questions, if they dont' respond we know they are bad news.
I looked, too, Jo, but was afraid I would do something wrong. I just was thinking of if Paula goes on vacation in the future.
I wish I could get Two Harbors to see the egg. I bet someone will post pictures on IWF site that i can see.
Morning Ladies, Jim and Steven,
I may not be a foxy Lady, but I'm a real pussy cat.
As you can see I've got my Internet back again,,,,, flippin ekk all it's like pulling teeth sometimes.
I've tried to catch up on all the posts, but there are so many and it's nearly two weeks worth,, PHEW !!! So gave up in the end.
Hope you are all as well as you can be at the moment.
Hope you all enjoyed the Lunar Eclipse, TYPICAL I didn't our skys were are clear as mud, so no chance of a view. Took me ages to set up my telescope, get my chair in the right place,,,,and then nothing but dirty great clouds and storms, oh well,I suppose there's always next time ???
DID SOMEONE MENTION CAKE ?????
I just fancy a slice of gooey Chocolate Rum Cake, I just might bake one tomorrow !!!
love and hugs
Chrissy
XXXXXXX
Awesome, TH has an egg!
I sent an email out with the link to report blog spammers....
Oh, yes, there are pics of the TH egg - better cam angle this year...looks great!
I can see the egg at IWF, I am sure someone will put up a video sometime soon.
Thanks, again, Paula and Steven!
No ones, talking to me, is it something I've said??? I could get a complex. [joke]
It's 2.30am Saturday morning here, and I'm cold and I have cramp in my legs and they are twitching, sitting in this office chair, so I'm going to say night night, God bless, Sleep well all.
Going to make a hot chocolate and take it to bed with me, Take care all.
love and hugs
Chrissy
XXXXXXXX
egg turning our nest
CHRISSY, glad you were able to get back on. Come back earlier in the evening when we are all wide-eyed and bushy-tailed!
Nite
Oh, Chrissy, Sorry! I was looking at an eagle egg! :)
Please forgive! Hope you can get some rest!
turning eggs again our nest....GOODNIGHT EVERYONE!
Good night, Mits! Get some Rest!
I've been downloading pics from Germany - granddaughter's!
Time for me to say-
Good Night All
Peaceful dreams and restful sleep
Prayers for all being said
Good night all...see ya tomorrow!
GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE
SLEEP TIGHT
PRAYERS FOR ALL
GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT WEEKEND.
JIM
PRAYER LADY SAYS GOOD NIGHT AND SENDS PRAYERS FOR ALL!!!
See you tomorrow, but not too early.
Hi, I'm up in the middle of the night and checked our nest.
Belle is looking good, it's snowing, she's tenting, and there is a thin layer of snow all over her back and wings.
She should be alright, and it will probably melt tomorrow.
Jim
[:~)]
Jim
NCTC NIGHT OWL NEST NEWS:
4:54 AM NEST TIME
Parent is awake and alert, over eggs but not on them. Appears to be something in the nest with Lib/Bell, can't make it out...no snow on nest. Yeah!
Hey Jim you and I have this shift together again I see!
Chrissy - yeah! Glad to see you back in action. I hear you on the weather and how it affects you. Same weather here in "Valley of the Sun" LOL... Have a cuppa cocoa for me!
Good morning Bird Girl; I just got
to work and check things out.
Indiana Nesting Eagles----Dave
GOOD SATURDAY A.M. EVERYONE, see we had some night-posters. Have a nice day.
eagle at MAINE, egg turning at BWE and eagle at BWO, won't be long before the osprey return, can't wait love those birds
GOOD MORNING EAGLE BUDDIES!!---HELLO!!--MOVIN'JIM---BIRD GIRL & INDIANA DAVE!!----NPR RADIO "Going to be a COLD WET DAY across the State of WV today"---"HOME OF BELLE & LIBERTY!!--temp. 32°---slate blue skies---Another GLORIOUS DAY for us to ENJOY!!---
MORNIN' HELEN----LOVE watching the OSPREYS too!!-----I so enjoyed the FINNISH OSPREYS!!---Their NEST was so beautiful---you felt you were sitting on the edge!!---That was the ARTIFICAL NEST!!!---SUZANNE & I kept talking about the nest!!---I remember saying it was a piece of art!!----FOOLED ME!----(i am easy)
CURSES!!!---Missed the EAGLE at ME!!---A favorite nest!!
VA NEST MT this a.m.---Can't see the 'SKINNY SQUIRREL' either!!!!
those Tesoro eaglets are BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL!
WOW!!---Must be cool at the NZOO---The 'LITTLE PRINCE' is "conked out" on his favorite GRATE!!----Looks so 'PEACEFUL"----the 'LITTLE IMP'----who wouldn't love that face!!!!
Good morning, everyone...
Belle looks to have a large area cleared already, and it's supposed to warm up there today.
Maine..Dad was perched over the snowbound nest, but I believe he's left now.
Norfolk.. I saw one of the original pair (probably Dad) bringing in fresh pine branches and looking for Mom just a short time ago.
BWE looks well, but damp with fresh pine in the nest too.
BWO ... Bleak at the moment, but Dad is perched on it.
[:~)]
Jim
COME OVER
COME OVER
I DARE YOU COME OVER
NEW THREAD!!
[:~)]
Jim
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